New Alzheimer's blood test predicts who is likely to develop dementia in 5 to 10 years - AOL.com

What the report says

Fox News reported that a Harvard-led study suggests a blood test measuring the Alzheimer’s-related biomarker p-tau217 may help identify older adults who are likely to develop cognitive decline years before symptoms appear. The research was presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in London and published in JAMA, according to the report.

The study followed nearly 2,700 cognitively healthy adults, with an average age of about 70, for as long as 10 years. Researchers found that people with very high p-tau217 levels had an estimated 78% chance of developing cognitive impairment within a decade and about a one-in-three chance within five years. Those with moderately elevated levels had an estimated 45% 10-year risk. The protein is a modified form of tau, which is linked to brain tangles associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

Lead author Rachel Buckley, an associate professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School, said the findings could support future clinical trials and, if validated, help guide monitoring and care once early-stage treatments are available. Fox News also cited Maria Carrillo, chief science officer at the Alzheimer’s Association, who said identifying risk before memory problems emerge could change diagnosis, treatment and prevention strategies.

The researchers cautioned that the test is not a standalone prediction tool. Fox News noted that age, genetics, kidney function and racial background may affect biomarker levels and dementia risk. The team said longer studies with more diverse participants are still needed before the estimates can be applied broadly in clinical practice.