Blood test for Alzheimer’s could soon be available on the NHS
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Early symptoms of Alzheimer’s can now be detected with a blood test
- A new blood test for Alzheimer’s disease has been found to accurately detect early symptoms of the illness, according to new research from the Mayo Clinic.
- The study, which was carried out on more than 500 people in an outpatient memory clinic, found the blood test was highly accurate, with 95 per cent sensitivity in picking up people with memory problems, and 82 per cent specificity in ruling out people without dementia.
- Dr Gregg Day, who led the study in the Alzheimer’s and Dementia journal, said the test was as good as more invasive tests currently in use, and is much more convenient and cost-effective.
- Dr Richard Oakley, associate director for research and innovation at the Alzheimer’s Society in the UK, said the results “suggest this test is very accurate” and could be used alongside other tests and observations from a trained health professional.
- The Blood Biomarker Challenge, supported by the Alzheimer’s Society, Alzheimer’s Research UK and the National Institute for Health and Care Research, aims to bring blood tests for dementia diagnosis to the NHS by 2029.