Blood Tests May Flag Early Alzheimer’s

Alzheimer’s disease makes thinking, memory, and the ability to carry out daily tasks more difficult. Early treatment can help people stay mentally sharp for longer. So scientists are looking for ways to identify the disease early on. A new study showed that a blood test may help identify early brain changes related to Alzheimer’s in midlife.

Alzheimer’s is characterized by the buildup of two proteins in the brain. They’re called tau and amyloid-beta. Older adults with more of certain Alzheimer’s-related forms of these proteins in their blood tend to do worse on thinking and memory tests. Researchers recently looked to see if people in midlife show similar effects.

The NIH-funded research team tested blood samples from 1,350 people in their 50s and 60s. None of them had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. The researchers measured the Alzheimer’s-related forms of the proteins. The study participants also took cognitive tests. These tests measured their thinking and memory abilities. Most of the participants had taken the same tests five years earlier.

Those with higher levels of the Alzheimer’s-related forms were more likely to have cognitive test scores that fell more dramatically over time. They showed slower thinking speeds and greater memory decline over the five years.

“Alzheimer’s disease pathology begins years before symptoms emerge,” says Dr. Kristine Yaffe of the University of California, San Francisco. “Detecting the disease early means patients can target modifiable risk factors and maybe seek other care.”

But more studies are needed on the blood tests before they can be used in the clinic.