A method to detect Alzheimer's disease before symptoms appear has been found

A simple blood test for the p-tau217 biomarker can accurately predict the development of Alzheimer's disease even at the earliest stages, when a person still has no symptoms. This conclusion was reached by Spanish scientists from the Sant Pau Research Institute (IR Sant Pau). The results are published in the journal Neurology.

The study involved 731 people with and without cognitive impairments. Scientists monitored the health status of volunteers for an average of about 10 years. It turned out that the level of p-tau217 protein in blood plasma allows not only to detect the presence of Alzheimer's disease but also to assess the rate of its progression.

Until now, more complex and expensive methods were used for diagnosis: lumbar puncture (cerebrospinal fluid analysis) and PET brain scanning. According to scientists, the blood test for p-tau217 is a non-invasive and accessible alternative that can be used both in clinics and in large-scale scientific research.

P-tau217 is a "toxic" form of tau protein associated with neurodegeneration. The authors emphasize that the level of p-tau217 gradually increases from preclinical stages of dementia to pronounced Alzheimer's disease.

The discovery is particularly important against the background of emerging new treatments for Alzheimer's disease - in particular, drugs that slow its progress. An accurate and accessible way to determine the stage of the disease can help doctors make timely decisions and select personalized therapy.