New tests could help in mission to improve Alzheimer's diagnosis rates

The two studies were presented at the International Conference of Alzheimer's Disease. The first study, carried out in Perth, Australia compared blood samples and brain scans from 273 people with Alzheimer's. From this they identified nine markers in the blood which when combined can predict whether a person had significant build up of amyloid in the brain - a hallmark of Alzheimer's. The model was 88 per cent accurate. A second study from Lund University in Sweden analysed amyloid and tau in spinal fluid from 137 people with mild cognitive impairment. They found 90 per cent of people with MCI and detectable levels of these proteins developed Alzheimer's within 10 years.

'It is important we find new and effective ways of improving diagnosis of dementia. This research provides more evidence that markers in blood and spinal fluid could be at least part of the answer for identifying Alzheimer's. As many as 60 per cent of people with dementia never receive a diagnosis despite the fact a timely diagnosis is essential if people are to gain access to vital services and treatments and plan for the future.

'More research is now needed to enable us to gain a better understanding of how Alzheimer's develops. Only then will we know for sure whether tests such as blood tests could one day provide a reliable diagnostic tool.'

Anne Corbett
Research Manager
Alzheimer's Society