There could be new hope for the early detection of Alzheimer’s disease, something crucial for the treatment of the disease. A group of scientists say they have come up with a new blood test that can accurately detect the presence of markers for Alzheimer’s. The researchers say they found that the APS2 (Amyloid Probability Score 2) blood test has shown high accuracy in detecting Alzheimer’s disease pathology. Their research was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Amyloid refers to abnormal protein deposits that build up in organs and tissues. These deposits can disrupt normal organ function and lead to a variety of diseases.
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A total of 1,213 patients underwent cognitive evaluation in primary or secondary care settings. The APS2 demonstrated high diagnostic accuracy (88-92%) in detecting Alzheimer’s disease pathology in both care settings. Compared to traditional methods, the APS2 significantly improved diagnostic accuracy for both dementia specialists (73% to 91%) and primary care physicians (61% to 91%).
The APS2 blood test demonstrated superior accuracy in identifying Alzheimer’s disease among individuals with cognitive symptoms compared to traditional clinical evaluations, said the researchers. This high diagnostic performance was consistent across both primary and secondary care settings.
“If you would detect Alzheimer’s disease pathology in the person without cognitive impairment, there’s no therapies to offer,” said Dr. Oskar Hansson, a professor of clinical memory research at Lund University in Sweden and the senior author of the study.
“Not too long ago measuring pathology in the brain of a living human was considered just impossible,” Dr. Jason Karlawish, a co-director of the Penn Memory Center at the University of Pennsylvania who was not involved in the research, told the New York Times. “This study adds to the revolution that has occurred in our ability to measure what’s going on in the brain of living humans.”
Alzheimer’s disease is caused by the abnormal build-up of proteins in and around brain cells. These proteins form plaques and tangles that disrupt the communication between neurons and eventually lead to cell death.
The exact cause of Alzheimer’s disease is unknown. There is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, but there are treatments that can help manage the symptoms and slow the progression of the disease. These treatments include medications, lifestyle changes, and cognitive therapy.
Early-onset Alzheimer’s disease is a form of Alzheimer’s that strikes at a younger age than the more common late-onset form. It is diagnosed before age 65, typically between 30 and 60 years old.
Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive brain disease that impacts memory, thinking and behavior. Early-onset Alzheimer’s has the same symptoms as the late-onset form, but they start at a younger age.
Essentially, the APS2 blood test is a promising new method for diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease. It has the potential to improve early detection and diagnosis, leading to better patient care and treatment options
