A blood test can predict dementia up to 15 years before symptoms strike: experts say ‘breakthrough’ opens door to screening program
A blood test that can predict dementia up to fifteen years before the onset of symptoms could change the lives of thousands of people, scientists believe.
Researchers found eleven protein biomarkers in the blood of individuals who were later diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and similar diseases, allowing them to predict the conditions with more than 90 percent accuracy.
It means a simple blood test could replace the expensive, time-consuming and invasive tests currently available for dementia patients – more than a third of whom are never diagnosed at all.
The proteins can also help in the development of new drugs to slow down or even reverse dementia, we hope.
Professor Jianfeng Feng from the University of Warwick said the blood tests could be ‘seamlessly’ integrated into the NHS and used by GPs to screen patients.
Researchers found eleven protein biomarkers in the blood of individuals who were later diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and similar diseases, allowing them to predict the conditions with more than 90 percent accuracy. It means a simple blood test could replace the expensive, time-consuming and invasive tests currently available for dementia patients – more than a third of whom are never diagnosed at all
Around 900,000 Britons are currently thought to suffer from memory theft disorder. But scientists at University College London estimate that this number will rise to 1.7 million within 20 years as people live longer. It represents an increase of 40 percent compared to the previous forecast in 2017
He said: ‘This is of great importance for screening middle-aged to older people within the community who are at high risk of dementia.’
He added that future drugs could be developed that interact with the proteins identified in the study, potentially providing new treatments.
Early diagnosis is crucial for patients with dementia. New drugs such as lecanemab and donanemab, which have not yet been approved for use in Britain, could slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease – but only if the disease is caught early enough.
Testing for dementia currently includes lumbar punctures and PET scans, which use a radioactive substance to detect changes in brain tissue.
These are invasive, expensive and can take a long time as the NHS has a limited number of PET scanners.
It is hoped that the blood test could revolutionize the diagnosis of dementia and lead to much earlier preventive treatment, giving patients a better quality of life for longer.
However, while the research is promising, any test must receive regulatory approval before it can be used in a healthcare setting.
Dr. Sheona Scales, research director at Alzheimer’s Research UK, described the findings as ‘fantastic progress’.
She said: ‘Finding better, more accessible ways to diagnose dementia is crucial.
‘Only two in three people with dementia in Britain are ever formally diagnosed, and current options are expensive and invasive.
‘New treatments such as lecanemab, if approved, will only be effective if given to people in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease.
‘Right now, very few people have access to the specialist tests that would be needed.
But they can also be a sign of dementia – the memory-robbing disorder that affects almost a million Britons and seven million Americans.
‘Blood tests can allow early diagnosis and are promising, but so far none have been validated for use in Britain.
‘We are in the process of funding research to provide the evidence the NHS needs to move forward with blood tests to diagnose Alzheimer’s.’
Dr. Amanda Heslegrave, from the UK’s Dementia Research Institute at University College London, said further research could allow doctors to identify the type of dementia a patient will develop, helping them tailor their treatment.
She added: ‘Now that disease-modifying treatments are close to approval in Britain, we need to develop a screening strategy.’
The study, published in the journal Nature Aging, looked at blood samples from 52,645 people taken between 2006 and 2010.
The 1,417 people who developed dementia had telltale protein biomarkers in their blood up to 15 years earlier.
The discovery was made possible by a type of artificial intelligence known as machine learning.
Researcher Wei Cheng, from Fudan University in China, said: ‘This newly developed protein-based model is clearly a breakthrough.
‘The proteomic biomarkers are easily accessible and non-invasive, and can significantly facilitate the application of large-scale population studies.’
WHAT IS DEMENTIA?
Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe a range of neurological conditions
A GLOBAL CARE
Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe a range of progressive neurological conditions (affecting the brain) that affect memory, thinking and behavior.
There are many forms of dementia, of which Alzheimer’s disease is the most common.
Some people may have a combination of different forms of dementia.
Regardless of which type is diagnosed, each person will experience dementia in their own unique way.
Dementia is a global problem, but it is most common in wealthier countries, where people are likely to live to a very old age.
HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE AFFECTED?
The Alzheimer’s Society reports that there are currently more than 900,000 people living with dementia in the UK. This number is expected to rise to 1.6 million by 2040.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, affecting between 50 and 75 percent of those diagnosed.
There are an estimated 5.5 million people in the US with Alzheimer’s disease. A similar percentage increase is expected in the coming years.
As a person’s age increases, so does the risk that he or she will develop dementia.
The number of diagnoses is increasing, but it is believed that many people with dementia are still undiagnosed.
IS THERE A TREATMENT?
There is currently no medicine against dementia.
But new medications can slow its progression and the sooner it is caught, the more effective treatments can be.
Source: Alzheimer’s Association