All articles tagged with #blood test
UC San Diego researchers identify plasma phosphorylated tau 217 (p-tau217) as a blood biomarker that predicted future dementia risk decades before symptoms, especially in older women and APOE ε4 carriers; its predictive power varies with age and hormone therapy history, suggesting potential for earlier prevention and monitoring, though not yet ready for routine clinical use.
Researchers from the University of Konstanz analyzed 362 blood parameters in 3,300 people aged 35–74 and used machine learning to distill two gender-specific panels of 10 biomarkers each that best predict biological age. The blood test estimates an individual’s bioage relative to chronological age and was validated in groups known to age faster or slower (Down syndrome, smokers, hormone-therapy users). Some biomarkers appear to drive aging while others simply indicate it, offering new health insights and potential use in evaluating anti-aging therapies and disease risk.
A study using the Women’s Health Initiative Memory Study found that higher levels of the blood protein phosphorylated tau 217 (p-tau217) correlate with a greater risk of developing dementia years later, potentially predicting risk up to 25 years before symptoms in 2,766 women aged 65–79. Those with higher p-tau217 had more than a threefold increased risk, with the highest levels linked to about sevenfold risk. The findings suggest a blood-based biomarker could enable earlier brain-health monitoring and prevention, but it’s not yet recommended for routine screening and requires further validation across diverse populations.
An Australian oncologist explains there is no universal 'everything' cancer test. The Grail Galleri blood test aims to detect cancer signals in the blood but failed to reduce late-stage cancer diagnoses in a large NHS trial, illustrating the gap between finding more cancers and saving lives. While early detection remains a key goal, simply detecting cancers earlier doesn’t guarantee better outcomes, so practical public health guidance focuses on prevention and careful interpretation of test results.
Two FDA-approved blood biomarker tests used to diagnose Alzheimer’s in symptomatic patients may also predict who will develop dementia years or even decades earlier, with some studies suggesting up to 20 years lead time, as research advances alongside preventive therapies and trials expected to yield results in 2027.
A long-term study of 2,766 cognitively healthy women found higher blood levels of p-tau217 predict an increased risk of developing dementia or mild cognitive impairment over up to 25 years, suggesting a blood test could help identify those at greatest risk years before symptoms, though it is not deterministic and results vary by race, hormone therapy use, and age; more research is needed before public screening.
A UC San Diego–led study analyzed archived blood samples from the Women’s Health Initiative Memory Study and found that higher levels of the brain protein p-tau217 in cognitively healthy women predicted dementia or mild cognitive impairment up to 25 years later. Published in JAMA Network Open, the finding suggests a simple blood test could identify future dementia risk long before symptoms, enabling earlier lifestyle interventions and more targeted trial recruitment. The study involved only women, with ongoing work to understand modifiable risk factors and whether results apply to men.
A blood biomarker, p-tau217, tracks brain Alzheimer’s pathology and, in a study of 603 older adults, could estimate how many years remain before symptoms appear. This could enable earlier diagnosis and shorter, cheaper preventive trials, though it isn’t yet recommended for general asymptomatic screening. The researchers hint at improving accuracy by combining p-tau217 with other biomarkers and note a web tool and GitHub code for broader exploration.
Blood tests that search for multiple cancers by detecting circulating tumor DNA promise early detection, but a large UK trial showed many cancers were missed and negative results can give false reassurance; plus costs and false positives could strain health services. Traditional screening remains the proven approach for reducing deaths, though these tests may have a role in high‑risk groups or post‑treatment monitoring. They are not a magic bullet, and symptoms should still prompt medical advice; participate in trials or seek clear interpretation if such tests are offered privately.
A UC San Diego-led study of 2,766 women aged 65–79 from the Women’s Health Initiative Memory Study found that higher blood levels of the biomarker p-tau217 are strongly linked to future dementia and mild cognitive impairment, suggesting a simple blood test could identify those at greatest risk up to 25 years before symptoms. While promising for early prevention and monitoring, blood-based testing for Alzheimer's is not yet recommended for routine screening, and results may not apply to men or younger populations.
A UC San Diego study of over 2,500 women found that higher blood levels of the biomarker p-tau217 can predict future dementia risk up to 25 years before symptoms, with stronger links in women over 70, those with Alzheimer’s genetic risk, or on estrogen-progestin therapy; while promising, more studies are needed and it isn’t yet ready for routine clinical use, but could guide prevention trials.
A Nature Medicine study describes a blood test that detects an abnormal form of tau in the blood, which may serve as a molecular clock to predict not only if someone will develop Alzheimer’s but also when symptoms could start. If validated in larger trials, it could enable earlier interventions and streamline clinical testing for therapies, though experts caution that it’s not yet recommended for cognitively unimpaired individuals to use this biomarker outside of research.
A European study found that blood biomarkers linked to early DNA repair and cellular stress, identified with machine learning, may reveal Parkinson’s long before motor symptoms, paving the way for inexpensive blood tests and earlier treatment—with clinical usage potentially within five years—though brain changes may not fully match blood signals and no cure exists.
An international trial enrolling about 1,000 volunteers over 60 in the UK, US and Canada is testing whether a simple finger-prick blood test can detect Alzheimer's-related biomarkers to diagnose the disease more quickly and non-invasively, potentially replacing or reducing reliance on expensive brain scans and lumbar punctures; results are expected in 2028.
BGI Genomics and Roche Diagnostics have rolled out blood-based tests for Alzheimer's in China, expanding access to screening and monitoring across Guangzhou, Qingdao, Shenzhen, Wuhan and Boao. BGI says its test is an auxiliary tool and not a standalone diagnosis, while Roche’s pTau181 test has begun clinical use in Boao and could streamline patient pathways and access to treatments such as Leqembi and Kisunla.