Blood test will predict the onset of Alzheimer's

Findings could aid treatment

- BY STEPHEN BEECH

A SIMPLE blood test that can predict when Alzheimer's symptoms will start has been developed by scientists.

The onset was predicted within a margin of three to four years in the study at Washington University School of Medicine.

Senior author Prof Suzanne Schindler said: “Our work shows the feasibility of using blood tests, which are substantially cheaper and more accessible than brain imaging scans or spinal fluid tests, for predicting the onset of Alzheimer's symptoms.