Alzheimer's diagnosis is set to become easier and less invasive. Depositphotos
Early detection of Alzheimer's has taken a step that medicine has called "revolutionary" with the approval of the first specific blood test to detect the disease in its early stages.
The new test, called Lumipulse G Plasma Ratio, has been successfully tested and screened by the Food and Drug Administration, gaining approval for clinical use in the United States. The test is based on the measurement of two key biomarkers in the blood: pTau217 and ß-amyloid 1-42 whose ratio closely correlates with the presence of amyloid plaques in the brain, a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. Unlike traditional methods, which require invasive examinations such as lumbar puncture or PET scan, this new test offers a nontraumatic and more accessible diagnostic option, as it is a simple blood test.
The approval of this test represents a significant breakthrough for millions of people at risk of developing the disease for whom early diagnosis can greatly improve disease management, enabling early interventions and more effective treatment strategies. Its simplicity will also be able to encourage a wider spread of prevention, reducing costs and barriers associated with traditional examinations.
The number of people with Alzheimer's disease is estimated to be growing, with about 5 million new cases each year worldwide. Overall, about 55 million people live with a form of dementia, of which Alzheimer's is the most prevalent disease. The new test approved May 16 is developed by Japan's Fujirebio Diagnostics changes the approach to one of the leading causes of disability and death.