SCIENCE said:
buffy said:
Divine Angel said:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-07-30/health-dementia-alzheimers-blood-test-centre-signs-diagnosis/106975294The ability to test for signs of Alzheimer’s disease decades earlier could be a step closer with a new blood test set for clinical trials within months.
Laboratory test “pTau217” is thought to give results in as little as 18 minutes and can detect changes in the brain decades before someone might develop symptoms.
It works by detecting a protein called phosphorylated tau 217 which is a biomarker for a build up of amyloid plaque in the brain.
A medical research group says the rollout for doctors to refer patients is expected in the next six to nine months.
In what way would having this biomarker change the way you live your life? Is there any gain in this knowledge?
maybe after getting a diagnosis they could donate more to preventative research
I was trained to ask, when considering a test or an intervention, “will the result of this test make a difference to how this person is treated (if not, don’t do it), or doing this intervention make a difference to the patient’s life (if not, don’t do it).”