Blood test picks up Alzheimer's in 95% of cases

A NEW blood test can detect early symptoms of Alzheimer's disease with 95% accuracy, experts say.

- By Hanna Geissler Health Editor

Research by the Mayo Clinic in the US gives further evidence that blood-based tests can pinpoint dementia.

Scientists examined two blood plasma proteins, amyloid beta 42/40 and p-tau217, associated with amyloid plaque build-up — a hallmark of Alzheimer's.

They found the test had 95% sensitivity in picking up memory problems, with very few cases missed.

Approved

The study, carried out on more than 500 people in an outpatient memory clinic, was also highly accurate in ruling out people without dementia.