A simple blood test can detect Alzheimer’s up to 15 years before symptoms emerge, with experts claiming it will “revolutionise” early diagnosis of the disease.

Swedish trials found the test to be as accurate at detecting the signs of Alzheimer’s as painful lumbar punctures, and better than a range of other tests currently being worked on.

Experts say it could pave the way for a national screening programme for the over-50s, and that current treatments could work better with the cases picked up earlier.

The test works by measuring levels of a protein called p-tau217 in the blood that indicate biological changes taking place in the brain during Alzheimer’s disease.

It could identify patients as likely, intermediate or unlikely to have Alzheimer’s disease and potentially rule out the need for further, more invasive investigations.

Source: Yahoo Life

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