Identification of Biomarkers can Help Create Blood Test for Alzheimer's Disease

A team of researchers from Australia has now identified key biomarkers that will help them develop a blood test that can help diagnose Alzheimer's disease, a condition that's associated with loss of memory in older adults.

Researchers say that a blood test that can detect the disease in its earliest stages will lead to patients getting better care and treatment for the condition.

According to Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures, an estimated 5.4 million people have Alzheimer's disease, meaning that one out of every eight older Americans suffers from the condition.

"Early detection is critical if we are to make any real difference in the battle against Alzheimer's, giving those at risk a much better chance of receiving treatment earlier, before it's too late to do much about it," said Dr. Samantha Burnham from CSIRO's Preventative Health Flagship.

In the study, researchers analyzed data obtained from 273 participants in the Australian Imaging, Biomarkers and Lifestyle study of ageing (AIBL). Researchers used mathematical models to identify nine biological markers that were associated with the measurements of the toxic protein called amyloid beta. This protein clumps in the brain to form plaques, an early sign of the disease.

"The progressive build up of the toxic protein, amyloid beta, is one of the earliest changes in the brain associated with the development of Alzheimer's disease," said Dr. Noel Faux, from the Florey Institute for Neuroscience and Mental Health, according to a news release.

Dr. Burnham added that a blood test that looks for these early markers can be a better way to detect the disease, and the diagnosis can be confirmed by using positron emission tomography (PET) imaging and cognitive tests.