Revolutionary blood test for Alzheimer’s raises ethical questions, hope for early intervention

In a groundbreaking revelation, scientists have developed a blood test that detects silent Alzheimer's damage with remarkable accuracy. This test measures p-Tau 217, a protein indicating core Alzheimer's pathology. Although 13% of those aged 75-84 have the disease, younger individuals may now be identified. However, the effectiveness of available drugs remains questionable, and concerns arise over potential mislabeling and unnecessary drug prescriptions. While the test's power excites researchers, the path to routine Alzheimer's testing is fraught with uncertainties, challenging the medical community to navigate ethical and practical implications.

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By F.D. Flam

A few years ago, researchers made the unnerving discovery that in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease, disordered clumps of abnormal proteins had been growing for 15 or even 20 years before their diagnosis. That means these pathological-looking deposits are silently accumulating in the brains of millions of seemingly healthy individuals in their 50s and 60s. 

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