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Scientists hail breakthrough in 'Alzheimer's blood test'

Scientists have developed a new blood test which could detect if a healthy person will develop Alzheimer's disease over the next three years. Changes in the blood may signify the early stages of the disease, researchers said in Nature Medicine.

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Alzheimer's blood test will help 'manage the disorder'

A breakthrough in the quest to find a blood test for Alzheimer's will help doctors and patients "manage the disease", one of the researchers has said.

Professor Howard Federoff explained:

Our novel blood test offers the potential to identify people at risk for progressive cognitive decline and can change how patients, their families and treating physicians plan for and manage the disorder.

The preclinical state of the disease offers a window of opportunity for timely disease-modifying intervention.

Biomarkers such as ours that define this asymptomatic period are critical for successful development and application of these therapeutics.

We consider our results a major step toward the commercialisation of a preclinical disease biomarker test.

– Professor Howard Federoff

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