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Alzheimer’s blood test can spot people with early symptoms, study suggests

(1 week ago)
Guardian staff reporter
Alzheimer'sHealthMedical researchDementiaMental health

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A new blood test developed by Mayo Clinic researchers can accurately detect early symptoms of Alzheimer's disease by examining two proteins (amyloid beta 42/40 and p-tau217) in blood plasma, showing high sensitivity and specificity, and has been approved by the US FDA.

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  1. 1 2025-06-07: Article published
  2. 2 By 2029: Goal to bring blood tests for dementia diagnosis to the NHS
  • Potential for quicker, easier, and more accessible diagnosis of Alzheimer's
  • Improved patient care and access to treatments
  • Ongoing research to validate the test in diverse populations and community settings
What: A new blood test for Alzheimer's disease, developed by Mayo Clinic researchers, can accurately detect early symptoms by examining amyloid beta 42/40 and p-tau217 proteins in blood plasma.
When: Published 2025-06-07. Study conducted recently. Goal for NHS by 2029.
Where: Mayo Clinic (US), UK (NHS, Alzheimer's Society, Alzheimer's Research UK).
Why: To provide a more convenient, cost-effective, and less invasive method for diagnosing Alzheimer's disease early, compared to existing methods like cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers.
How: The test measures levels of amyloid beta 42/40 and p-tau217 proteins in blood plasma. It showed 95% sensitivity and 82% specificity in a study of over 500 people.

A new blood test developed by Mayo Clinic researchers can accurately detect early symptoms of Alzheimer's disease by examining two proteins (amyloid beta 42/40 and p-tau217) in blood plasma, showing high sensitivity and specificity, and has been approved by the US FDA.