5 Markers to Better Detect Alzheimer's Disease

Testing for Alzheimer's disease is getting simpler and more accurate. A new approach using five biological markers in blood samples is changing how doctors can detect this brain condition.

What's New?

Instead of testing for just one protein marker, scientists now look at five different markers in a single blood sample:

• p-tau217 - a modified protein linked to Alzheimer's
• Two forms of amyloid-β protein (40 and 42)
• GFAP - shows how brain cells respond to damage
• NfL - indicates nerve cell damage

Why It Matters

This multi-marker test, called LucentAD Complete, reduces uncertain results from 20-30% to about 10%. In plain English, fewer patients will hear "we're not sure" after their test. When the test does give a result, it's right about 90% of the time.

The Big Picture Before this breakthrough, doctors needed to:

• Examine brain tissue after death
• Perform spinal taps
• Use expensive brain scans

Now, a simple blood draw could tell you if you have Alzheimer's. This is particularly important because new treatments can slow the disease if caught early.

Looking to the Future Mike Miller, from Quanterix, shares an optimistic view: "We believe that LucentAD Complete is just the beginning of what multi-marker testing can do to improve diagnostics for Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases."

This sentiment is echoed by Charlotte Teunissen, a neurochemist at Amsterdam University Medical Center, who puts it simply: "Multi-marker is the future."

Scientists think this technology might help doctors:

• Tell different types of dementia apart
• Track how well treatments work
• Start screening older adults routinely, like we do for other conditions

The teams are already working on using similar approaches to detect other brain diseases like Parkinson's and frontotemporal dementia.

Cost and availability information aren't mentioned in the article, but this development suggests Alzheimer's testing could become as common as checking cholesterol levels in elderly patients.

Bottom Line

This isn't just about making testing easier - it's about getting clear answers sooner. For patients and families facing memory concerns, this could mean earlier access to treatments and better preparation for the future.

For those interested in learning more about how this test works and what it means for Alzheimer's care, you can visit Lucent Diagnostics' website for detailed information about LucentAD Complete testing.

Latest Developments in Blood Testing

In a parallel breakthrough, Roche Diagnostics has developed another promising blood test approach. Their recent presentation in Madrid revealed that their Elecsys amyloid plasma panel can rule out Alzheimer's disease with 96.2% accuracy. This test looks at two specific markers:

• Phosphorylated Tau-181
• Apolipoprotein E4

The significance? If you don't have these markers, doctors can be very confident in ruling out Alzheimer's disease. This could save many patients from undergoing more invasive and expensive testing procedures.

Industry Collaboration
Major healthcare companies are joining forces to advance this field. Roche Diagnostics is partnering with Eli Lilly and Company, bringing together diagnostic and pharmaceutical expertise. The FDA has already granted their test a breakthrough device designation, recognizing its potential impact on patient care.

"We are excited to be collaborating with Lilly on such an important area of unmet medical need," says Matt Sause, CEO of Roche Diagnostics. This collaboration highlights how seriously the medical community is taking blood-based testing for Alzheimer's.

The Market Impact
With nearly 7 million Americans living with Alzheimer's disease, these blood tests could revolutionize how we approach diagnosis. Early symptoms can be subtle and often go unnoticed until the disease has progressed significantly. These new testing methods could help doctors identify - or rule out - Alzheimer's much earlier in the process.

Further Reading:

• Inside Indiana Business article on Roche's developments
• Nature article on multi-marker testing