Blood Test Detects Alzheimer’s Damage Before Symptoms Appear

A simple blood test can reliably detect signs of the damage caused by Alzheimer’s disease before symptoms of confusion or memory loss are apparent. The test uses neurofilament light chain (NfL) levels in blood serum, which is elevated at the pre-symptomatic stages of familial Alzheimer’s disease. The blood test is not yet commercially available.

These findings were reported in “Serum Neurofilament Dynamics Predicts Neurodegeneration And Clinical Progression In Presymptomatic Alzheimer’s Disease” by Oliver Preische, Stephanie A. Schultz, and colleagues. The researchers analyzed data from the Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network and used ultrasensitive immunoassay technology to demonstrate . . .