Blood biomarkers may detect Alzheimer’s risk before symptoms appear

For the first time, researchers found blood biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease that correlated with minor cognitive differences in midlife adults who did not have dementia. The study, led by UC San Francisco, also found that the biomarkers, which measure tau and amyloid plaque, were associated with a greater chance of cognitive decline in these participants.

The study published May 28 in The Lancet and is primarily funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Six percent of 1,350 participants, who were aged 53 to 69, had a high level of amyloid and tau in their blood, hallmarks of Alzheimer's, the researchers found. These proteins were linked with lower scores in two key cognitive areas.

Alzheimer's disease pathology begins years before symptoms emerge. Detecting the disease early means patients can target modifiable risk factors and maybe seek other care."