Research from Sweden indicates that a simple blood test can identify Alzheimer’s disease in routine healthcare environments with an accuracy of up to 90%.
These results were shared at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference held in Philadelphia on Sunday.
The test functions by assessing the levels of Plasma Phospho-Tau217, a biomarker associated with Alzheimer’s pathology in the brain.
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According to researchers, the test can detect the disease even before symptoms manifest.
“This blood test shows a high level of accuracy in detecting Alzheimer’s disease, even in real-world primary care scenarios,” stated study author Oskar Hansson, M.D., head of the Clinical Memory Research Unit at Lund University, Sweden, in a communication with Fox News Digital.
A simple blood test has been shown to detect Alzheimer’s disease in routine health care settings with up to 90% accuracy. (iStock)
Diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease remains challenging for primary care physicians due to insufficient diagnostic tools, he noted.
The recent study, published in the journal JAMA, evaluated 1,213 individuals experiencing mild memory loss, who were assessed either by primary care doctors or memory specialists.
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Participants underwent both blood tests and cerebrospinal fluid assessments, enabling researchers to compare results.
According to study author Sebastian Palmqvist, associate professor of neurology at Lund University, “Primary care doctors accurately identified Alzheimer’s disease 61% of the time, whereas specialists had a correct rate of 73%.”
In contrast, the blood test achieved an accuracy of 90%.
Research indicates that diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease is challenging for primary care physicians due to inadequate tools. (iStock)
“I was surprised by the effectiveness of the blood test in real-world primary care settings, where patients are often older and may have accompanying conditions like kidney disease that can influence results,” Hansson shared with Fox News Digital.
One significant limitation of the study was that it was conducted solely in Sweden.
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“We require studies across the U.S. and other countries to better evaluate the applicability of these findings,” Hansson emphasized.
“I anticipate it will take one or two years before clinical guidelines are established regarding the use of blood tests in primary care.”
Looking forward, researchers emphasize the need for clear guidelines on applying these tests in clinical practice.
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“I foresee that precision blood tests will soon be recommended for individuals with cognitive impairments assessed at memory disorder clinics,” stated Hansson.
The blood test could help limit the reliance on more advanced and costly methods, such as PET scans and cerebrospinal fluid tests. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)
This development could minimize the need for more advanced and expensive diagnostic procedures like PET scans and cerebrospinal fluid tests.
“I estimate that it will take one to two years before clinical guidelines are established for using blood tests in primary care,” Hansson remarked.
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Currently, researchers do not recommend screenings for “cognitively normal individuals,” as there are no approved treatments for those with Alzheimer’s disease pathology who lack cognitive impairment, according to the research team.
“My expectation is that highly accurate blood tests will soon be advocated for patients with cognitive impairment assessed at specialized memory disorder clinics,” a researcher forecasted. (iStock)
Hansson added, “Moreover, we suggest employing the blood test as an addition to, rather than a substitute for, the clinical assessments currently in use.”
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, about one in five women and one in ten men will experience dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease.
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Studies have previously indicated that the condition is misdiagnosed in 25% to 35% of patients treated at specialized clinics, and that misdiagnosis rate is likely even higher among patients evaluated by their primary care doctors.
