New blood test to detect Alzheimer's
- 11 Mar
New research finds a blood test to detect the early stages of Alzheimer's disease before symptoms show.
Research at the University of Nottingham has found that by looking for a combination of specific points in the blood, they can detect a difference between those in a healthy person and those with the disease.
This was announced at the Alzheimer's Research UK conference, bringing hope of much earlier diagnoses in the future.
They also believe the new findings could help with improvement in treatments.
The test is expected to be a quick and easy test that can be done in a clinic.
It searches for other points in the blood, called 'markers', in particular proteins related to inflammation, as well as the previously known proteins that are currently linked to Alzheimer's.
Professor Kevin Morgan from the University of Nottingham said it could be a decade before the tests can be used with patients as they still need to be validated, but the combination of markers is promising and the result will be a big step for future for treatment. The research is hoping to be used as a cheap and easy pre-screen, to be able to see anomalies highlighting Alzheimer's before symptoms appear.
Professor Morgan said:
Our findings are exciting because they show that it is technically possible to distinguish between healthy people and those with Alzheimer's using a blood test.
As blood tests are a fast and easy way of aiding diagnosis, we are really encouraged by these findings and the potential they hold for the future.
The way we see it working is you can test people and it will tell them if they have the all-clear, or if they are medium- or high-risk. If they are medium-risk, they can be monitored closely and high-risk patients can be referred to a specialist for more in-depth testing.Dr Eric Karran, director of Research at Alzheimer's Research UK, said:
Giving people with dementia an accurate diagnosis is not always easy, and so building up our armoury of diagnostic techniques is vital.
While there is still some way to go before a test like this could become available, the results are promising.
Related articles
- 11 Sep
People in Bedfordshire can find mental health support through an audio guide
The guides have been written by clinical psychologists and are available to download in print or listen to as an audio file, reports Bedfordshire News.Dr Judy Baxter, Clinical Director with BCCG and...
- 10 Sep
Police officers in Dorset to receive mental health training
The partnership with the University comes as part of the county’s Mental Health Street Triage Project. It is hoped to equip officers with improved knowledge and skills to assess members of the...
- 09 Sep
People in Peterborough can refer themselves for mental health services
Through a drive to offer support to more people and ease pressure on doctors, people living in Peterborough can self-refer themselves to mental health services, reports Peterborough Today.Dr Adrian...
- 08 Sep
The first mental health centre for men
The site has been set up by Alex Eaton, whose dad took his own life and has suffered with mental health problems himself, in Burton upon Trent, reports BBC Newsbeat.Mr Eaton said: "We are the only...
- 07 Sep
NHS trust told no mental health beds available
Dr Bohdan Solomka has said that on Sunday a lack of beds were applied across the NHS and among private providers, reports the BBC. The director of the Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trusts...
- 07 Sep
Over 16,000 mental health referrals for young people have been rejected
Between July last year and June this year, data from the NHS has found that Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services rejected 5,396 referrals, reports STV News.Over the last three years 16,565...
- 04 Sep
New mental health centre to open in Ardwick
Plans to build a new £6m treatment and recovery centre in Manchester have been revealed. It will be built in Ardwick and be run by Alternative Futures Group, reports the Manchester Evening...
- 03 Sep
Research finds more chance of re-offending if mental health issues are present
Research has found that ex-prisoners with mental health problems and drug and alcohol misuse are more likely to commit violent offences after release than other former prisoners, reports the...
- 02 Sep
Drop in the number of people with mental health issues held in cells
Recent figures have found that the Crisis Care Concordat has seen over 10,000 people receive care from mental health nurses with the support from police officers, reports the Burton Mail.Figures have...
- 02 Sep
Mental health social work scheme accepting applications
100 places are now available for applicants who have a 2:1 or above undergraduate degree and can demonstrate attributes such as resilience and empathy, reports Community Care.The Think Ahead...
Responding to the DWP Consultation: Housing Benefit Reform - Supported Housing "Found the seminar very informative and gave an interesting and full insight into current thinking about the consultation. Michael was a very engaging and knowledgeable presenter and encouraged interaction with the audience which led to further relevant points being shared with the room. I shall certinaly look out for future events!" M.E. - Care Housing Association
