New Blood Test For Alzheimer’s Developed

A new blood test for Alzheimer's disease tests for a biomarker that is predictive of cognitive decline and hippocampal atrophy. The test measures a specific variant of phosphorylated-tau181 (a tau protein in ordinary blood samples). The test is performed with an ultrasensitive method known as Single Molecule Array (Simoa). Simoa can measure considerably lower levels of protein biomarkers than other analytical methods.

Because the test measures a tau protein variant present in ordinary blood samples, the researchers believe the test is relatively simple and inexpensive to perform, even in a primary care setting. The researchers noted that previous . . .