Is early detection the key to slowing Alzheimer’s disease?
News Desk
Islamabad: Researchers have reported a major advance in the early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, with two new methods, a blood test and an advanced brain scan, being described as important milestones that could detect the condition years before symptoms appear.
According to international media reports, the developments could significantly improve early detection of Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia and a leading cause of death in the United Kingdom.
More than 520,000 people in the UK are currently living with Alzheimer’s, and while there is no cure, experts say early diagnosis can help slow disease progression and better manage symptoms.
The first breakthrough involves a blood test that identifies key proteins linked to the disease, including amyloid beta and tau, which are associated with memory decline and brain degeneration.
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In a US-based study involving 1,350 participants with an average age of 61, individuals with higher biomarker levels showed poorer memory and cognitive performance. The test has already received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), though it is not yet available for routine use in the UK.
The second development is an improved brain imaging technique using a new radiation tracer known as MK6240. Researchers say it is twice as effective as existing methods in detecting tau protein accumulation in the early stages of the disease.
Experts believe these advancements could strengthen both clinical diagnosis and research, and may also support future approval of new Alzheimer’s treatments such as donanemab and lecanemab, which were previously rejected in some regions due to cost concerns.
While the findings have been described as encouraging by the Alzheimer’s Society and other specialists, researchers caution that further studies are needed to confirm the safety, accuracy and effectiveness of these tools before they can be widely used in clinical practice.
