Blood test for Alzheimer’s is a step closer

A BLOOD test for Alzheimer’s disease could be a step closer after a breakthrough by scientists.

researchers have found a link between levels of a particular protein in the blood and how much has built up in the brain.

The protein, called amyloid, accumulates in brains affected by the disease and causes them to stop functioning properly. Currently, doctors can only accurately assess how much amyloid is in patients’ brains using expensive PET scans or extracting spinal fluid – and neither procedure is readily available on the NHS.

A simple blood test could be used on millions of patients to quickly diagnose whether or not they have Alzheimer’s, so doctors know which treatments to give them.

In the US study, by Washington University School of Medicine, researchers compared blood results with scans and spinal fluid samples of 41 older adults. They found levels of amyloid protein in their blood were linked to the amounts in their brains. This could pave the way for the development of a blood test to accurately measure levels.

Dr David reynolds, chief scientific officer of Alzheimer’s research UK, said: ‘This research ... helps scientist better understand the relationship between what we can measure in the blood and what’s happening in the brain.’