Blood test breakthrough in search for Alzheimer's cure
A blood test to detect which people with failing memories will go on to develop Alzheimer's disease has been developed by British scientists, who hope it may prove a breakthrough in the hunt for a cure.
After a decade's work, an international collaboration led by scientists from King's College London, with the UK company Proteome Sciences, has published a study identifying a set of 10 proteins in the blood. The test can predict the onset of Alzheimer's in the next 12 months in people with memory problems with an accuracy of 87%. It could cost £100-£300 and be available within two years.
Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia are distressing and a huge burden on those affected, their families and the NHS. But despite the growing problem as people live longer, there are no good long-term treatments and there is no cure. David Cameron recently announced a drive to discover new drugs for dementia, which he said "stands alongside cancer as one of the greatest enemies of humanity".
Many trials have ended in failure. As one potential drug after another has fallen by the wayside, scientists have begun to look for ways to treat people at a much earlier stage, when their brain is not so badly damaged. But to do that, they need a test to predict who is going to develop the disease.
http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/jul/08/blood-test-predicts-onset-alzheimers-disease
