Revolutionary blood test: early detection of Alzheimer's without pain!

Revolutionary blood test: early detection of Alzheimer's without pain!

A groundbreaking blood test has the potential to diagnose Alzheimer's early by simply taking a blood sample. This reported oe24. Dr. Bernhard Mühl, a specialist in medical-chemical laboratory diagnostics, explained that this new test measures the biomarker beta-amyloid in blood plasma, which is considered a main cause of Alzheimer's disease. ALzheimer's is a neurodegenerative disease that is becoming increasingly common - around 100,000 people live with this diagnosis in Austria alone. In addition, the number could rise to over 200,000 by 2050. Previously required invasive procedures such as lumbar punctures or expensive PET scans make diagnosis difficult; they are painful or not always accessible. The new blood test enables early diagnosis and thus earlier initiation of therapy, which is crucial for the quality of life of those affected.

Overview of new diagnostic techniques

In addition to the new blood test, which is offered exclusively in Europe by Labors.at, a test is being developed in Switzerland and Germany that measures the protein molecule p-Tau217. This is also an indication of the presence of Alzheimer's dementia NZZ reported. These developments are particularly important because many dementias are only recognized very late. Neurologist Giovanni Frisoni emphasizes that these tests can begin with identification when patients show the first signs of memory loss or other cognitive abnormalities. However, the new blood tests are not suitable for detecting other forms of dementia such as frontotemporal dementia.

The introduction of these tests not only provides a simple diagnostic solution, but also allows patients to receive timely treatment before symptoms worsen further. While the tests are specifically designed to identify active Alzheimer's disease, experts emphasize that they cannot predict whether someone will develop Alzheimer's later in life. Premature use without symptoms could therefore lead to unnecessary anxiety. Nevertheless, these advances in diagnostics could ultimately help to better support Alzheimer's patients and their families and improve their quality of life.