New Blood Test for Alzheimer’s Disease: PrecivityAD2
One in five women and one in ten men develop Alzheimer’s disease during his/her life. Most of these individuals are referred to specialist memory clinics for diagnosis, where memory tests, PET scans, and spinal fluid analyses are conducted. Unfortunately, simpler and faster diagnostic options, such as blood tests, are lacking in primary care settings where dementia issues often first arise.
Advancements in Blood Testing for Alzheimer’s Disease
Recent research led by Oskar Hansson and Sebastian Palmqvist from the Swedish University of Lund has shown promising results for a blood test named “PrecivityAD2”. This test, developed by C2N Diagnostics, demonstrates an impressive accuracy of 88 to 92 percent in identifying Alzheimer’s disease in routine care environments. These findings have been documented in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), with key contributions from researchers at C2N Diagnostics.
Understanding Alzheimer’s Progression
Before Alzheimer’s symptoms become evident, changes are occurring in the brain. Research prominently highlights the accumulation of beta-amyloid proteins around nerve cells as a potential cause of Alzheimer’s. These proteins originate from the cleavage of certain cell membrane receptors and have been associated with the death of nerve cells in Alzheimer’s patients. As a result, current treatments have been focused on mitigating, halting, or even reversing this plaque formation, though progress has been limited.
An additional protein of concern is tau, which normally enhances stability within nerve cells. In Alzheimer’s, tau proteins become hyperphosphorylated, leading to tangles that disrupt cellular functioning, impair cognitive abilities, and contribute to neuronal death.
What Does the PrecivityAD2 Test Measure?
The PrecivityAD2 blood test evaluates:
- The ratio of two beta-amyloid types: Aβ42 and Aβ40.
- Concentrations of a tau protein variant: Tau217.
These biomarkers are critical for diagnosing Alzheimer’s. During the study, researchers analyzed data from 1,213 individuals aged 74 on average, all exhibiting mild memory issues, a key early sign of the disease. The blood test results were compared against evaluations from primary care physicians and specialists, revealing only 61% and 73% accuracy, respectively. This stark contrast emphasizes the necessity for improved diagnostic tools in primary care settings.
The Importance of Early Diagnosis
Early and accurate diagnosis is imperative, particularly as new treatments are emerging that can slow disease progression. Recently, two immunotherapies were approved in the U.S. Early detection also aids in distinguishing Alzheimer’s from other treatable conditions causing memory loss, like depression or chronic fatigue.
Prospects for Widespread Use of the New Alzheimer’s Test
Jörg Schulz, Director of Neurology at RWTH Aachen University Hospital, acknowledges the informative potential of these tests but also points to their costly and complex nature, primarily due to the need for mass spectrometry for accurate evaluation. Current limitations in widespread utilization may lead to the development of cheaper alternatives while maintaining sensitivity.
Key Takeaway: Guidelines for Clinical Use
The Swedish researchers are working on establishing clinical guidelines for implementing the blood test. Although the U.S. FDA has not yet approved it, doctors can procure it from certified labs. Moving forward, the test may be initially rolled out in specialized memory clinics, with broader adoption in primary care anticipated within one to two years.
The Ongoing Debate: Is Beta-Amyloid the True Villain?
Despite substantial research linking beta-amyloid plaques to Alzheimer’s disease, not all scholars and drug companies subscribe to this view. Some propose that these plaques might be symptomatic, representing the brain’s defense mechanisms against pathogens such as Porphyromonas gingivalis, a bacterium associated with gum disease. There is still no definitive breakthrough concerning this alternative hypothesis, but it opens an interesting avenue for future research.
Conclusion
The development of the new blood test, PrecivityAD2, significantly enhances the potential for early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, potentially transforming patient care and paving the way for innovative treatment approaches.
