Scientists focus on less invasive, less expensive Alzheimer's tests

Scientists presented research on less invasive, cheaper biomarker tests for early detection of Alzheimer's at the recent Alzheimer's Association International Conference in London, according to an NPR report.

Here are three things to know.

1. Existing Alzheimer's tests involve tapping cerebrospinal fluid from a lumbar puncture or ingesting radioactive materials for a positron emission tomography scan. These tests are often used for detection after patients already experience significant memory problems, since they are costly, dangerous and expensive.

2. One test presented at the conference — a blood-based test developed by Randall Bateman, MD, a neurologist at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis — detects amyloid plaques. The test is based on the theory decreased levels of soluble amyloid in the blood is associated with the progression of Alzheimer's.

The blood test, however, would only provide a first-round screening to help identify patients at risk for developing the disease. Those with decreased amyloid levels would be candidates for more the more invasive PET scan or CSF test, which are more reliable.

3. Jorge Sepulcre, MD, PhD, a radiology professor at Boston-based Massachusetts General Hospital, presented a brain imaging technique.  Examining two-year follow-up data from the Harvard Aging Brain Study, Dr. Sepulcre and his team found a protein spreading pattern in parts of the brain that is correlated with the progression of the disease.

This pattern could help researchers determine which stage of the disease an Alzheimer's patient is in, which could help physicians to inform treatment.

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