Low-cost blood test may help predict Alzheimer's disease: Scientists

PET imaging is expensive and involves radioactive agents, and spinal fluid tests require spinal taps, which are invasive, complex and time-consuming, they said.

Scientists have developed a simple blood test that may help diagnose Alzheimer’s disease in people with memory issues. This  provides a less invasive and low-cost alternative for brain imaging and spinal fluid tests.
 
The blood test, described in the journal Nature Medicine, detects the abnormal accumulation of a form of protein known as phosphorylated-tau-181 (ptau181), which is a biomarker that suggests brain changes due to Alzheimer’s. 
 
Over the past 15 years, research advances in the development of biomarkers like tau protein have enabled researchers to more accurately diagnose Alzheimer’s disease, select research participants, and measure response to investigational