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The FDA Just Approved The First-Ever Blood Test To Diagnose Alzheimer's Disease
A simple blood test could detect Alzheimer’s disease more than ten years before symptoms begin to appear, according to a new study.
New research shows that a protein called beta-synuclein appears in higher concentrations in blood samples of people genetically at risk for Alzheimer’s, including those who have no symptoms. The study, published in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia, suggests that the protein may act as an early signal of damage in the brain. That could allow doctors to detect the disease well before memory loss begins.
“Blood levels of this protein reflect neuronal damage and can be determined relatively easily,” said Dr. Patrick Öckl from the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases. “In this, we see a potential biomarker for the early detection of neurodegeneration.”
The study analyzed blood samples from 178 people. Some had no symptoms. Others had visible cognitive issues. Many carried a gene mutation linked to Alzheimer’s. The data showed that people with the mutation had higher levels of beta-synuclein in their blood, even if they had no symptoms. The highest levels appeared in people who were already showing signs of cognitive decline.
“After the onset of symptoms, the more severe the cognitive impairment, the higher the beta-synuclein level in the blood,” said Dr. Markus Otto from University Medicine Halle in Germany.
Beta-synuclein is a protein found in synapses, the connections between neurons. When those connections begin to break down, as often happens early in Alzheimer’s, the protein leaks into the blood. This can occur many years before other changes to the brain become visible.
The current method for diagnosing Alzheimer’s typically involves brain imaging or taking fluid samples from a patient’s spine. Those methods can be expensive or difficult to access. A blood test would offer a cheaper, more practical option, especially for patients who are just starting to experience memory problems.
For the past several years, researchers have been focusing on early detection, given that new treatments appear to be more effective the earlier that Alzheimer’s can be diagnosed.
Some drugs like Leqembi and Kisunla are designed to slow the disease by targeting another protein called beta-amyloid in the brain, but the evidence suggests they work best when given in the earliest stages of the disease.
“At the moment, Alzheimer’s is usually diagnosed quite late,” Öckl said. “Thus, we need advances in diagnostics. Otherwise, we won’t be able to tap the full potential of these new drugs.”
The research team believes beta-synuclein could also be used to track how quickly the disease is progressing or how well treatment is working. It may also be relevant in other brain conditions, including stroke.
The next step will be testing the method in larger, more diverse groups. For now, the study offers a promising new path for detecting Alzheimer’s before symptoms appear, while there is still time to act.
