First-of-its-kind UCSF study shows blood test may catch early cognitive trouble

A study from UC San Francisco found that a blood test for middle-aged adults can indicate who is more likely to show diminished cognition even without dementia symptoms. Alzheimer’s disease is a degenerative neurological condition and a leading cause of death in the U.S., with cases expected to nearly double by 2060 among people age 65 and older. Although Alzheimer’s changes begin in the brain decades before symptoms, identifying early development and risk in ages 40 to 50 remains unclear. Current diagnosis often relies on clinical symptoms plus costly scans or painful tests such as spinal taps. Blood draws can detect proteins linked to Alzheimer’s, but the meaning of high biomarker levels in young, unsymptomatic people over the long term is uncertain, especially as direct-to-consumer marketing increases.

"A first-of-its-kind study from UC San Francisco published Thursday found a simple blood test for middle-aged adults may indicate who is more likely to show diminished cognition even without any dementia symptoms."

"While the condition is mainly diagnosed in elderly individuals, researchers know the disease actually starts to develop in the brain decades before the first symptoms show up. But identifying those early developments and who at ages 40 to 50 is on a path to being diagnosed with the disease largely remains a mystery."

"Currently, diagnosing Alzheimer's disease means looking at clinical symptoms in addition to sometimes costly medical scans or painful tests like a spinal tap. But in recent years, physicians have been able to detect key proteins linked to Alzheimer's disease via a blood draw."

"The problem with this method is that for young, unsymptomatic patients, researchers aren't quite sure what high levels of these biomarkers mean in the long term. And now more companies are marketing the tests directly to those nervous about dementia risk."

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