Alzheimer’s Could Be Detected With A Drop Of Blood, Study Finds – MonitorExpresso.com

World. This study focuses on identifying biomarkers in the blood, with the goal of finding a less intrusive and more available diagnostic option. It is estimated that the introduction of this blood test could reduce the need for other diagnostic methods by up to 80 percent. Traditionally, confirmation of Alzheimer’s disease was only feasible by postmortem evaluation of brain tissue. However, the discovery and application of specific biomarkers have facilitated less invasive diagnostic methods, such as cerebrospinal fluid analysis. In this evolving context, a study published in the respected journal JAMA Neurology, with the participation of researchers at the Hospital de Sant Pau in Barcelona, has revealed that a blood test can diagnose Alzheimer’s with an accuracy of close to 95 percent. The main goal of this research is to identify biomarkers in the blood as a less invasive and more accessible diagnostic option for this disease. The key discovery of this study is the presence of the phosphorylated TAU protein 217 (p-tau217), which has demonstrated exceptionally high diagnostic accuracy. According to reports from the Catalan hospital, this protein emerges as a reliable and effective marker for detecting Alzheimer’s disease.Implications and advantages of the new diagnostic approachThe study not only validates the effectiveness of p-tau217, but also highlights its ability to detect changes in the early stages of the disease, even before clinical symptoms manifest themselves. This quality is of paramount importance, as it enables earlier and potentially more effective interventions. Dr. Daniel Alcolea, who researches in the Dementia Neurobiology Group at the Institut de Recerca Sant Pau and directs the biomarker platform of the Memory Unit of the same hospital, emphasizes the superiority of this biomarker over others currently under study. Another highlight of this breakthrough is its ability to significantly reduce the need for additional testing, which is currently crucial in confirming the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s. It is estimated that the introduction of this blood test could reduce dependence on other diagnostic tests by up to 80%. The study was based on the analysis of samples from 786 patients, with an average age of 66.3 years, from Sweden. In addition, data from three important observational cohorts were incorporated: the Translational Biomarkers in Aging and Dementia (TRIAD) in Canada, the Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimer’s Prevention (WRAP) in the United States, and the Sant Pau Initiative on Neurodegeneration (SPIN) in Barcelona. neurodegenerative diseases. Its impact goes beyond the medical realm, offering hope and new perspectives to millions of people affected by this condition around the world.

Original source in Spanish