In a group of over 600 older adults without symptoms, repeated blood tests were found to predict the age of symptom onset with a median absolute error of about three to four years. Higher levels of p-tau217<\/a> were associated with earlier emergence of symptoms.<\/p>\n \u2018HIDDEN\u2019 FAT COULD PREDICT ALZHEIMER\u2019S DISEASE UP TO 20 YEARS BEFORE SYMPTOMS, RESEARCH FINDS<\/a><\/p>\n Someone whose p-tau217 levels are elevated at age 60 would typically develop symptoms around 20 years later, the researchers found. If p-tau217 becomes elevated at age 80, symptoms tend to appear much sooner, after about 11 years.<\/p>\n A new wave of blood tests aiming to predict Alzheimer\u2019s risk may offer hope for earlier detection \u2014 but they could also raise concerns about the accuracy and reliability of the results. (iStock)<\/p>\n The findings, published in Nature Medicine, need to be validated in broader and more diverse populations, the researchers noted. The test’s predictive accuracy may not yet be sufficient for individual clinical use.<\/p>\n “In the near term, these models will accelerate our research and clinical trials<\/a>,” said lead investigator Dr. Suzanne Schindler at Washington University in St. Louis in an NIH press release.\u00a0<\/p>\n ALZHEIMER’S RATES HAVE REACHED STAGGERING NUMBER AS EXPERTS CALL FOR CHANGE<\/a><\/p>\n “Eventually, the goal is to be able to estimate when individuals are likely to develop symptoms, which will help them and their doctors to develop a plan to prevent or slow symptoms<\/a>.”<\/p>\n As more Alzheimer\u2019s treatments are becoming available, there is a growing demand for biomarker confirmation of the disease, according to Sheena Aurora, MD, vice president of medical affairs for the Alzheimer’s Association in Chicago.<\/p>\n “We do not recommend the use of blood biomarker tests in people who are not experiencing symptoms.”<\/p>\n “Blood-based biomarker tests can improve the accuracy and speed of diagnosis when used as a complement to other testing, offering a path to earlier Alzheimer\u2019s detection<\/a>,” Aurora told Fox News Digital.<\/p>\n The tests are relatively inexpensive and easier to access compared to PET scans or MRI, according to the expert.<\/p>\n DEMENTIA REPORT REVEALS ‘SHOCKING’ SIGNS AT AGE 60 THAT YOU’LL DEVELOP THE DISEASE BY AGE 80<\/a><\/p>\n “For many, early detection can bring peace of mind, time to plan ahead, agency over decisions and the opportunity to try treatments that slow disease progression<\/a>,” she said.<\/p>\n DEMENTIA RISK FOR PEOPLE 55 AND OLDER HAS DOUBLED, NEW STUDY FINDS<\/a><\/p>\n Two Alzheimer\u2019s blood tests have been cleared by the FDA<\/a> \u2013 the Fujirebio Lumipulse G pTau217\/\u03b2-Amyloid 1-42 Plasma Ratio, cleared for symptomatic adults 55 and older, and the Roche Elecsys pTau181 Plasma, cleared for initial assessment in primary care for adults 55 and over with symptoms of cognitive decline.<\/p>\n Several other lab-developed tests are also emerging \u2013 but not all tests are the same, and they do have limitations, Aurora noted.<\/p>\n “Blood-based biomarker tests can improve the accuracy and speed of diagnosis when used as a complement to other testing, offering a path to earlier Alzheimer\u2019s detection.” (iStock)<\/p>\n The Alzheimer\u2019s Association\u2019s clinical guidelines recommend using blood tests primarily in specialized care settings for patients with cognitive impairment<\/a>, as that is currently the only context where strong evidence supports their effective use, according to Aurora.<\/p>\n “We do not recommend the use of blood biomarker tests in people who are not experiencing symptoms,” she said. “There currently is not substantive data about use of these tests in primary care settings or for people who are not cognitively impaired.”<\/p>\n CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER<\/a><\/p>\n Diagnosing Alzheimer\u2019s is typically a “multi-step process<\/a>” involving several types of tests, Aurora noted, but blood testing can be an important piece of the diagnostic process.<\/p>\n “Current Alzheimer\u2019s blood biomarker tests are not a standalone test to diagnose Alzheimer\u2019s disease \u2013 such a thing does not yet exist,” she said.<\/p>\n Diagnosing Alzheimer\u2019s is typically a “multi-step process” involving several types of tests, an expert noted, but blood testing can be an important piece of the diagnostic process. (iStock)<\/p>\n Blood tests are not a substitute for a comprehensive clinical evaluation, the expert noted, “and they should be ordered and interpreted by a healthcare professional in the context of clinical care.”<\/p>\n The Alzheimer\u2019s Association\u2019s guidelines also warn that accuracy can vary widely among tests, and that many blood biomarker options on the market fall short of recommended performance standards.<\/p>\n CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES<\/a><\/p>\n There is also a risk of false positives, which can cause significant anxiety<\/a>, experts warn.\u00a0<\/p>\n Research shows that people with chronic kidney disease, for example, may have higher levels of Alzheimer\u2019s blood biomarkers, even when the disease is not present. This underscores the importance of healthcare providers carefully analyzing the test results.<\/p>\n Experts stress the need for better education for both patients and providers \u2014 along with clear clinical follow-up after results. (iStock)<\/p>\n As new research<\/a> continues to show the promise of blood tests, Aurora stressed the need for better education for both patients and providers \u2014 along with clear clinical follow-up after results \u2014 to fully realize their potential across different care settings.<\/p>\n CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP<\/a><\/p>\n “Studies in these areas are being conducted, and we expect to learn more at the 2026 Alzheimer\u2019s Association International Conference (AAIC 2026), July 12\u201315 in London and online,” she added.<\/p>\n Aurora noted that the Alzheimer\u2019s Screening and Prevention (ASAP) Act aims to expand access to new blood tests by creating a pathway for Medicare to cover FDA-approved or cleared blood biomarker screening tests<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n![\"Older](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/older-man-getting-alzheimers-blood-test.jpg\")
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