{"id":5084,"date":"2018-02-01T14:54:27","date_gmt":"2018-02-01T14:54:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/braintest.com\/?post_type=kbe_knowledgebase&#038;p=5084"},"modified":"2020-03-16T17:17:47","modified_gmt":"2020-03-16T17:17:47","slug":"new-cost-effective-blood-test-may-help-diagnosis-alzheimers-large-scale","status":"publish","type":"kbe_knowledgebase","link":"https:\/\/braintest.com\/new-cost-effective-blood-test-may-help-diagnosis-alzheimers-large-scale\/","title":{"rendered":"This Cost-Effective, Scalable Blood Test Can Detect the Early Build-Up of Amyloid Beta"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>When it comes to neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer&#8217;s, early diagnosis is critical. Although this disease can only truly be diagnosed after death, there are indicators that specialists look for while a patient is still alive.<\/p>\n<p>One of those hallmarks is the presence of amyloid beta, a defective protein that causes plaques to form in the brain. Based on a new blood test, it may be possible to detect the early build-up of this protein. With an impressive accuracy rate, this test could dramatically alter how we approach the diagnostic process.<\/p>\n<h1>A Blood Test Could Alter Early Treatment Techniques<\/h1>\n<p>Currently, the only tests to detect amyloid beta are expensive and invasive. These include a PET scan, costing upwards of $3500 \u2013 or the extraction of cerebrospinal fluid, otherwise known as a spinal tap. However, this may all change.<\/p>\n<p>Researchers from Australia and Japan have found that the precursor molecules that eventually form amyloid beta can be detected in the blood. Yielding a 90 percent accuracy, the researchers believe that this test could influence earlier treatment options. Some researchers have even referred to this blood test as the \u201choly grail\u201d of Alzheimer&#8217;s research.<\/p>\n<p>It is important to note that just because an individual displays a build-up of amyloid beta, does not indicate that Alzheimer&#8217;s is to blame. This is why researchers plan to validate their findings by testing a larger pool of patients.<\/p>\n<p>To summarize:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>373 Japanese and Australian patients were studied. These individuals were either cognitively normal, were living with mild cognitive impairment, or had been diagnosed with Alzheimer&#8217;s disease.<\/li>\n<li>As published in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/d41586-018-01466-8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><i>Nature<\/i><\/a>, the researchers checked the accuracy of this blood test using spinal fluid measurements and PET scans. <strong>Being accurate nine times out of 10, this test demonstrates real potential<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Not only is this test more cost-effective, but it is also scalable.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>The Importance of Early Diagnosis<\/h2>\n<p>With an estimated 5.5 million Americans living with Alzheimer&#8217;s, it is critical that we focus on preventative measures. For those who display early warning signs, early diagnosis is imperative.<\/p>\n<p>Some of the benefits include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Accessibility to drug and non-drug therapies in a timely manner<\/strong>. Depending on the individual circumstances, this can significantly improve cognition and quality of life.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Being able to adjust and actively plan<\/strong>. Family members can also seek practical advice and support.<\/li>\n<li>Therapeutic interventions are improving, targeting symptoms of depression and poor cognition while delaying institutionalization. The goal is to <strong>help patients maintain independence for as long as possible<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>If left undetected, individuals can increase their risk of medication errors, automobile accidents, and other safety concerns.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>This is why <a href=\"https:\/\/braintest.com\/the-science\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">BrainTest<\/a> has focused on helping individuals better assess and monitor cognition. Self-administered, this test can be completed in the comfort of your home. Once you receive your results, you can then discuss your baseline report card with a physician.<\/p>\n<p>Please note, this test does not diagnose dementia \u2014 it simply assesses possible cognitive impairment.<\/p>\n<h2>Know the Signs<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-4257 size-full\" src=\"http:\/\/braintest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/braintest-getapp-287x390.jpg\" alt=\"Get the BrainTest app!\" width=\"287\" height=\"390\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Each individual case is unique, which is why you should know the possible warning signs of Alzheimer&#8217;s. Of course, memory loss that begins to disrupt daily life is one of the key symptoms, but you may also:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Experience issues with planning and problem-solving.<\/li>\n<li>Struggle to complete once familiar tasks, either at home or at work.<\/li>\n<li>Become confused about the passage of time or your location.<\/li>\n<li>Have difficulty communicating, especially in terms of your vocabulary.<\/li>\n<li>Withdraw from social situations.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If you or your loved one have been experiencing any of the symptoms above, please seek a professional opinion. There is a wide range of conditions that can cause confusion, including nutritional deficiencies. A physician will help you rule out possible causes so that you can reach a timely and accurate diagnosis.<\/p>\n<p>To uncover more information on early warning signs and the diagnostic process, please refer to our <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/braintest.com\/knowledge\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Knowledge Center<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Related:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/braintest.com\/12-early-signs-of-alzheimers-disease\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">12 Early Signs of Alzheimer&#8217;s Disease<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/braintest.com\/feeling-lost-first-sign-alzheimers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Could &#8216;Feeling Lost&#8217; Be the First Sign of Alzheimer&#8217;s?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When it comes to neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer&#8217;s, early diagnosis is critical. Although this disease can only truly be diagnosed after death, there are indicators that specialists look for while a patient is still alive. One of those hallmarks is the presence of amyloid beta, a defective protein that<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":8013,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","kbe_taxonomy":[36],"kbe_tags":[],"class_list":["post-5084","kbe_knowledgebase","type-kbe_knowledgebase","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","kbe_taxonomy-alzheimers"],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/braintest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/person-getting-his-blood-check-1350560.jpg",1920,1280,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/braintest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/person-getting-his-blood-check-1350560-300x224.jpg",300,224,true],"medium":["https:\/\/braintest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/person-getting-his-blood-check-1350560-300x200.jpg",300,200,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/braintest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/person-getting-his-blood-check-1350560.jpg",1920,1280,false],"large":["https:\/\/braintest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/person-getting-his-blood-check-1350560-1024x683.jpg",1024,683,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/braintest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/person-getting-his-blood-check-1350560.jpg",1536,1024,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/braintest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/person-getting-his-blood-check-1350560.jpg",1920,1280,false],"rp-thumbnail":["https:\/\/braintest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/person-getting-his-blood-check-1350560-150x100.jpg",150,100,true],"product":["https:\/\/braintest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/person-getting-his-blood-check-1350560-310x310.jpg",310,310,true]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Krista Hillis","author_link":"https:\/\/braintest.com\/es\/author\/kristahillis\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"When it comes to neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer&#8217;s, early diagnosis is critical. Although this disease can only truly be diagnosed after death, there are indicators that specialists look for while a patient is still alive. One of those hallmarks is the presence of amyloid beta, a defective protein that","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/braintest.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/kbe_knowledgebase\/5084","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/braintest.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/kbe_knowledgebase"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/braintest.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/kbe_knowledgebase"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/braintest.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/braintest.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5084"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/braintest.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/kbe_knowledgebase\/5084\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8012,"href":"https:\/\/braintest.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/kbe_knowledgebase\/5084\/revisions\/8012"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/braintest.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8013"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/braintest.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5084"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"kbe_taxonomy","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/braintest.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/kbe_taxonomy?post=5084"},{"taxonomy":"kbe_tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/braintest.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/kbe_tags?post=5084"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}