New multi-protein blood test accurately detects late-stage Alzheimer's disease

Researchers have identified seven proteins in the blood that could enable better blood tests for Alzheimer's disease. A study shows that using a broader panel of markers provides a clearer picture of the disease and allows for more accurate future treatment choices.

In Alzheimer's disease, amyloid plaques form in the brain, followed by thread-like structures made of the protein tau, changes that both have toxic effects on the brain's nerve cells years before dementia symptoms appear.

Historically, diagnosis has primarily relied on cognitive changes, which manifest at a later stage of the disease. Biomarker-based diagnostics were initially limited to specialized clinics capable of performing cerebrospinal fluid sampling or PET scans.

New blood-based tests, such as p-tau217, have improved accessibility. However, their ability to determine the disease stage and predict disease progression remains limited, especially when compared to PET scans.