Researchers say the blood test could help identify people who may need further screening long before symptoms appear.
from the University of California, San Diego, suggests a simple blood test could help predict dementia decades before symptoms appear. Researchers analyzed blood samples from more than 2,700 women between the ages of 65 and 79 who were part of a large national memory study that began in the late 1990s.
They measured a protein in the blood called p-tau217 and then followed the women for up to 25 years to see who later developed dementia. “We sought to determine whether this blood-based biomarker plasma p-tau217 could, whether it was associated with dementia risk in people who had no symptoms, who were cognitively healthy,” said Aladdin Shadyab, lead researcher and associate professor of public health at UC San Diego's Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science.“What we found was that women who had elevated levels of this blood-based biomarker named Plasma p-tau217 had threefold higher risk of incident dementia,” Shadyab said.“With a simple blood test, we can detect whether someone has changes in their brain that indicate Alzheimer's disease,” he said.“A cerebral spinal fluid test, which is invasive, or what's called PET imaging,” he said. “Those are more costly approaches.”“What the value of this test is, is that it can screen people to see whether they would require further follow-up testing,” Shadyab said. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings. For now, Shayab said this blood test shows promise for research on factors that increase dementia risk.Heidi de Marco is an award-winning photojournalist and health reporter who has focused her work on producing multimedia stories that help humanize the complex health and humanitarian issues impacting marginalized and vulnerable communities in the United States and abroad.KPBS keeps you informed with local stories you need to know about — with no paywall. Our news is free for everyone because people like you help fund it.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
UCSD study detects dementia risk decades before symptoms appearResearchers led by a scientist at UC San Diego examined blood samples collected in the 1990s to detect a key biomarker’s presence.
Read more »
A Simple Drink Choice Helps Gamers Stay Focused For Hours, Study FindsThe Best in Science News and Amazing Breakthroughs
Read more »
A simple step toward affordability: Repeal DC’s individual mandateRepealing the individual mandate would restore a basic principle: Adults should be able to decide how to allocate their own limited resources.
Read more »
UCSD men lose to Cal State Northridge in Big West TournamentFor the second straight night, guard Tom Beattie scored a career-high for UCSD with 22 points.
Read more »
Larry Hughes II shoots CSUN past UCSD, into Big West tourney semifinalsHughes makes six 3-pointers among his career-high 34 points, and the fourth-seeded Matadors ride a 48-point second half to an 80-70 victory over the fifth-seeded Tritons. CSUN will face top-seeded …
Read more »
Simple Blood Test Can Predict Dementia Risk in Women Decades Before SymptomsThe Best in Science News and Amazing Breakthroughs
Read more »