Blood Test Shows Promise as Alzheimer’s diagnostic Tool in Brazil
SÃO PAULO – A new blood test demonstrates a high degree of accuracy in diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease within the Brazilian population, perhaps revolutionizing early detection and access to care, according to recent findings. The test correctly identified 86.5% of cases, meaning only 13.5% of patients would require further confirmatory testing.
Currently, diagnosing Alzheimer’s relies on more expensive and less accessible methods like PET scans, wich can cost around R$10,000. the new blood test is projected to cost approximately R$800, significantly lowering the barrier to diagnosis.While not yet a complete replacement for existing “gold standard” tests, researchers believe the blood test’s accuracy may improve to the point of becoming the primary diagnostic method in the coming years.
“today,it is indeed not possible to say with certainty that the blood test will replace the other gold standard tests,but it might potentially be that in a few years it will,” stated the scientist involved in the research. The ultimate goal is to develop a fully Brazilian blood test technology with comparable performance to further reduce costs and increase accessibility.
Early and accurate diagnosis is crucial as new therapies emerge. Although a cure remains elusive, medications are now available that can slow the accumulation of protein plaques in the brain – anti-amyloid therapies – but are most effective when administered in the initial stages of the disease.
Beyond medical intervention, lifestyle factors play a meaningful role in Alzheimer’s prevention. Modifiable risk factors like low education, a sedentary lifestyle, excessive alcohol consumption, hypertension, diabetes, and obesity should be addressed.Studies suggest that effectively treating high LDL cholesterol, for example, could prevent up to 7% of dementia cases globally.
