If there is a test that you can take to find out whether you, or someone you love could develop Alzheimer’s disease in the future, would you take it?
In an article published in The Daily Mail UK, Dr. Nicholas Barthelemy and his research team at the University of Washington claim that they have discovered a “simple blood test” that can detect someone’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. They further claim that not only is this test “almost 100 percent accurate,” it can also detect Alzheimer’s as early as twenty (20) years before the individual develops visible signs and symptoms of the disease.
What does this blood test involve?
This blood test measures the P-tau217 clumps that abnormally accumulate in the brains of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease. These P-tau217 clumps or its fragments can sometimes leak into the bloodstream which can then be detected and measured using a simple blood test.
These findings are significant, in that, not only does it hold the potential of being able to determine the risk for developing Alzheimer’s Disease at a very early stage, but it is also less invasive and less costly. Currently, the are only a few ways to help diagnose Alzheimer’s disease. One procedure is collecting a sample of one’s cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) which can be risky and cause discomfort. Another method is through a PET (positron emission photography) scan of the brain. Lastly, the more conclusive way to detect Alzheimer’s disease is through an autopsy.
The blood test findings were also observed in a related research published in the August 2019 issue of Neurology. This study involved 158 adult subjects between 60s and 70s, most with normal cognitive functions. Their blood test results measured beta-amyloid proteins was shown to be 88% accurate in detecting Alzheimer’s disease when results were compared against the subject’s PET scan.
How soon can this blood test be available to the general public?
Although the research data seem promising, scientists agree that this blood test may not yet be available for general consumption for at least five years. According to Professor John Gallacher, at the University of Oxford, currently, the “predictive value of a test is much lower in a general population than in the laboratory, and the ethical concerns of getting it wrong much greater.”
Ethical dilemmas regarding the blood test
Being able to spot Alzheimer’s disease so early on, via a blood test certainly has ethical dilemmas. Several of the families we’ve worked with have their own varied views on this topic. No doubt that this early detection would help pave the way for further scientific breakthroughs that could potentially lead to the discovery of a cure, or at a minimum, delay the progression of the disease.
However, since there is currently no cure, questions arise such as would someone really want to know 10 to 20 years in advance that they will develop Alzheimer’s disease in the future? What are the implications and/or value of knowing in advance?
Such a diagnosis could be devastating for some people and may have serious effects on one’s mental health and well-being, and that of their family members. Still, others may feel differently. There are also possible health insurance implications to consider.
Nevertheless, there is still cause to celebrate this important breakthrough. It is certainly a step in the right direction towards understanding Alzheimer’s disease that could bring us closer to finding a cure. A day we are all looking forward to really celebrating!
