The study, which involved 328 blood samples, was designed to determine if a test that monitors a patient’s autoantibodies can detect AD-related pathology at pre-symptomatic, prodromal, and mild-moderate stages
New blood test can detect AD ten years early. (Credit: Tatiana from Pixabay)
A group of researchers from Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine (Rowan-Virtua SOM) and Durin Technologies have unveiled positive study results for their newly designed blood test to early detect Alzheimer’s Disease (AD).
The new blood test is capable of detecting pathology related to AD up to 10 years before the onset of its symptoms.
The study of their blood test involved 328 blood samples and showed nearly 97% accuracy.
It was designed to determine if a test that monitors a patient’s autoantibodies can detect AD-related pathology at pre-symptomatic, prodromal, and mild-moderate stages.
The researchers used samples from participants in clinical trials at the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative, the New Jersey Institute for Successful Aging, and the Parkinson’s Study Group.
The blood test uses just eight autoantibody biomarkers to identify the AD pathology across its progression, including in those who were determined to have no trace of AD.
According to the researchers, their minimally-invasive and cost-effective AD test can diagnose or predict a clinical decline in asymptomatic individuals.
It can also monitor a patient’s progress in treatment and has significant potential to impact effective treatments for AD.
Durin Technologies director of research, and the study lead investigator Cassandra DeMarshall said: “To our knowledge, this is the first blood test to accurately detect Alzheimer’s-related pathology several years before either clinical symptoms or more expensive and invasive tests can identify the disease.”
Durin Technologies founder and chief scientific officer, and professor of geriatrics and gerontology at Rowan-Virtua SOM, Robert Nagele said: “Alzheimer’s disease pathology begins a decade or more before the emergence of hallmark symptoms.
“An accurate, non-invasive blood test for early detection and monitoring of AD could bend the curve of clinical outcomes through earlier participation in clinical trials and monitoring of AD progression of patients under treatment.”
Earlier this year, researchers at King’s College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN) developed a blood test that could predict the risk of Alzheimer’s disease up to 3.5 years before clinical diagnosis.