Alzheimers research going a step further

A big step forward has been made in developing a blood test to predict the start of Alzheimers in people at risk of developing the disease. In a recent study including more than 1,000 people, researchers identified a set of proteins in the blood which can predict the start of the dementia with 87% accuracy. The findings, published in the journal Alzheimers & Dementia, will be used to improve trials for new Alzheimers treatment. So far, research into treatments for Alzheimers disease was not very successful. Identifying patients earlier was one of the priorities for dementia research, which can now be fulfilled. The research group, which combines university and industry scientists, looked for differences in the blood of 452 healthy people, 220 with mild cognitive impairment and 476 with Alzheimers disease. Researchers want to be able to identify people to enter clinical trials earlier than they currently do, but the test may eventually be available for doctors to use on patients. This gives a better way to identify people who will progress to Alzheimers disease. On the other hand, people can be entered into clinical trials earlier, which can increase the potential of a positive drug effect and therapy. ...

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