We may soon have a blood test for Alzheimer's



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About 5.5 million Americans over the age of 65 face [Alzheimer’s disease]. Symptoms include behavioral changes, cognitive difficulties and mood swings: they can indicate a number of different diseases, so many people do not really know what they are fighting for.

After a nearly 20-year hunt, a wave of new research is now promising a radical change. Researchers have identified reliable, blood-based biomarkers of disease through more automated and more sensitive detection techniques.

[A] The promising marker is a protein called neurofilament light (NFL). NFL is released by neurons damaged by injury, concussion, multiple sclerosis or neurodegenerative conditions, including AD. According to Michelle M. Mielke, of the Mayo Clinic, the increase in nerve damage, whatever its origin, causes an increase in its levels in the blood. It is therefore not specific to AD, but is useful as a relative marker for monitoring the course of the disease.

The NFL is an "excellent candidate" biomarker whose development is even more advanced than the amyloid peptide ratio and tau markers specific to AD, says Mielke. But it's hard to label a single marker as the best candidate for a blood test: "It depends on the context of use. Some may be better for diagnosis and others to track the progression of the disease or the response to a drug. "

Read the full original message: A blood test for Alzheimer's disease is approaching.

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