New Blood Test Accurately Identifies Alzheimer's Disease

The test, measuring levels of a protein called p-tau217, could revolutionize early diagnosis and reduce the need for invasive procedures.

A new blood test, measuring levels of a protein known as phosphorylated tau 217 (p-tau217), shows promise in accurately identifying Alzheimer's disease, even before the onset of visible symptoms.
The test, evaluated by researchers at Gothenburg University in Sweden, demonstrated high accuracy comparable to current diagnostic methods such as cerebrospinal fluid tests and brain scans.
The study involved 786 participants and showed that the blood test could reduce the need for confirmatory testing by approximately 80%.
A £5 million project backed by Alzheimer’s Research UK and the Alzheimer’s Society is set to pilot these groundbreaking blood tests within the UK's National Health Service (NHS) in the next five years.
The emergence of this blood test marks a significant step forward in the quest for effective and accessible tools for the diagnosis and management of Alzheimer’s disease.