Scientists have created a new blood test that can improve the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s. The research, conducted by teams from Washington University School of Medicine and Lund University, suggests that the test can accurately detect the disease and determine its progression. Researchers believe this advancement may help patients receive earlier diagnoses and more targeted treatment.
The test measures a protein known as MTBR-tau243, which is associated with the buildup of tau tangles in the brain. These tangles are one of the major characteristics of Alzheimer’s disease and are strongly connected to memory loss and declining cognitive function. Traditionally, detecting tau buildup required expensive brain imaging scans or spinal fluid testing, both of which can be invasive and difficult for many patients to access. The new blood test offers a less invasive and more convenient option.
To evaluate the test, scientists studied blood samples from hundreds of individuals, including healthy participants and patients at different stages of Alzheimer’s disease. The results showed that the blood test was highly effective in identifying abnormal tau accumulation in the brain. Researchers also observed that MTBR-tau243 levels rose as Alzheimer’s became more severe, allowing doctors to better distinguish between early and advanced stages of the disease.
Another important finding was the test’s ability to separate Alzheimer’s-related dementia from other neurological disorders that can cause similar symptoms. This could help reduce misdiagnosis and improve treatment decisions.
Experts say the development is especially important because recently approved Alzheimer’s therapies are most effective when used early in the disease process. A reliable blood test could make early screening more accessible and allow doctors to monitor treatment progress more easily over time.
Researchers believe
“This blood test clearly identifies Alzheimer’s tau tangles, which is our best biomarker measure of Alzheimer’s symptoms and dementia,”
said co-senior author Randall J. Bateman, MD, the Charles F. and Joanne Knight Distinguished Professor of Neurology at WashU Medicine.
“In clinical practice right now, we don’t have easy or accessible measures of Alzheimer’s tangles and dementia, and so a tangle blood test like this can provide a much better indication if the symptoms are due to Alzheimer’s and may also help doctors decide which treatments are best for their patients.”
