CHICAGO: A revolutionary blood test could predict 20 years in advance if a person will develop Alzheimer’s disease.
Scientists hope the breakthrough could prevent victims having to reach an advanced stage before they are diagnosed.
It may also help middle-aged people determine their risk of the devastating condition.
The German researchers claim their test can identify the proteins involved with the disease as they seep into the blood stream.
Known as amyloid-beta peptides, these misshapen strings clump together in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s, slowly killing off the surrounding cells.
The German researchers claim their test can identify the proteins involved with Alzheimer’s disease as they seep into the blood stream
Previous studies have shown these clusters begin to form up to 20 years before the disease becomes obvious from a patient’s behaviour
The new test is based on an immuno-chemical analysis using an infrared sensor.
The sensor’s surface is coated with highly specific antibodies which extract biomarkers for Alzheimer’s from the blood or the cerebrospinal fluid, taken from the lower part of the back.
The infrared sensor then analyses if the biomarkers show already pathological changes, which can take place more than 15 years before any clinical symptoms appear.