Researchers have developed two new blood tests that can help predict cognitive decline and memory loss in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. The tests focus on identifying biomarkers related to the disease, rather than relying solely on the presence of amyloid plaques.
Dr. Randall Bateman, a neurology professor at Washington University in St. Louis, led the development of one of the blood tests. It measures abnormal tau protein levels in the brain and can indicate whether Alzheimer’s is affecting memory and thinking. The test is more accurate than existing blood tests for detecting amyloid plaques.
“We want to identify people who are likely to benefit from treatments that can clear the brain of amyloid plaques,” Bateman said.
The other new test, developed by Dr. Tony Wyss-Coray at Stanford University, measures a ratio of two proteins in spinal fluid that changes when memory is impaired. This ratio can predict eventual memory loss in people with a genetic predisposition to Alzheimer’s.
“The exciting thing here is that this process seems to anticipate the development of cognitive decline 10, 20, 30 years later,” said Dr. Paul Worley, a professor of neuroscience at Johns Hopkins University. The tests could allow for earlier treatment and potentially preserve synapses, which are crucial for brain function.
Source: https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2025/04/02/g-s1-57688/alzheimers-blood-spinal-fluid-tests-memory-loss-brain-plaques