New Test for Alzheimer’s is 93% Accurate

It seems that we are increasingly hearing about people being diagnosed with Alzheimer's. We know that this disease impacts many of our clients and their families so we are always looking for interesting articles to share with you about this disease. The test that you are about to read about could play a huge role in detecting Alzheimer's disease before its symptoms arise.A team of German researchers found the test to be accurate in identifying Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease, and other neurodegenerative diseases.The team, from Saarland University and Siemens Healthcare, developed the test by looking at the blood samples of 48 individuals who were already found to be suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, and 22 healthy individuals. By comparing the two groups, they identified 12 microRNAs in the blood stream that were at different levels for those with Alzheimer’s.The researchers then used these 12 microRNAs as biomarkers to test a group of 202 individuals, which included healthy participants as well as those with Alzheimer’s disease, mild cognitive impairment, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia.They found that the test was over 93 percent accurate in differentiating between the participants with Alzheimer’s and those without the disease. The test was also 95 percent accurate in distinguishing healthy controls from people with various psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia, depression and bipolar conditions.While the researchers lauded the test’s success, they acknowledged more research must be done to confirm its efficacy. They also believe it may be most effective when used in conjunction with other neurological exams, like PET scans.Early detection is key for developing treatment plans for Alzheimer’s disease. Recent studies have found that the number of Americans affected by the disease is projected to reach 13.8 million by the year 2050.Shared from www.choiceconnections.com - Andrew Williams