BREAKTHROUGH ALZHEIMER'S BLOOD TEST WILL BRING CURE CLOSER

'This test could revolutionise the diagnosis of Alzheimer's'

- Hanna Geissler

A NEW blood test is set to "revolutionise" the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease and "bring us closer to a cure", say experts.

The procedure searches for traces of proteins that build up in the brains of sufferers.

The test has been found to be as accurate as invasive alternative methods such as lumbar punctures.

Experts said the breakthrough may now pave the way for people to be routinely screened.

Dementia scientist De Professor Bart Strooper, of University College London, said: "This is an excellent study and brings us very close to a blood test for Alzheimer's disease that can be used in daily practice."

Dr Sheona Scales, director of research at Alzheimer's Research UK, added: "This study suggests that measuring levels of a protein called p-tau217 in the blood could be as accurate as lumbar punctures for detecting biological hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease and superior to a range of other tests under development.

"This adds to a growing body of evidence that this particular test has huge potential to revolutionise diagnosis for people with suspected Alzheimer's." Researchers across the globe are racing to develop an accurate blood test capable of diagnosing or predicting a person's future risk of the disease by measuring "biomarkers".