A Way to Predict Alzheimer's Disease Long Before the First Symptoms Has Been Found 0 18

Scientists have developed a model that allows for the assessment of when a person may begin to show symptoms of Alzheimer's disease based on blood analysis. The work was published in the journal Nature Medicine (NM).

The method is based on measuring the level of the protein p-tau217 in blood plasma. This protein reflects the accumulation of amyloid and tau in the brain—two key pathological proteins associated with Alzheimer's disease. Researchers compared data from over 600 elderly volunteers and found that the level of p-tau217 can predict the onset of symptoms with an accuracy of about three to four years.

It turned out that the earlier p-tau217 levels rise in the blood, the later clinical manifestations typically appear. For example, if elevated protein levels were detected at age 60, symptoms could develop approximately 20 years later. If changes were observed at age 80, signs of the disease emerged on average 11 years later. This may indicate that at a younger age, the brain compensates better for pathological processes.

The authors emphasize that for now, such a test is mainly needed for scientific research and clinical trials of new drugs. However, in the future, it could help doctors identify at-risk individuals in advance and plan preventive measures or treatment before significant cognitive impairments appear.