Tag

Blood Test

All articles tagged with #blood test

FDA clears Alzheimer's blood test to flag brain changes earlier
health5 hours ago

FDA clears Alzheimer's blood test to flag brain changes earlier

The FDA has cleared Roche and Eli Lilly’s Elecsys pTau217 blood test to help identify Alzheimer’s disease–related brain changes in people 55 and older with cognitive decline; the biomarker test can run on more than 4,500 Roche analyzers in the United States and is intended to aid, not replace, diagnosis when used with other clinical information. European approval followed in May, and Labcorp and Quest Diagnostics plan to offer the test nationally, potentially broadening access as developers push for earlier detection and treatment. Experts warn that a positive pTau217 result is not a definitive diagnosis and must be interpreted alongside other data.

FDA approves noninvasive blood test for colorectal cancer screening
health21 days ago

FDA approves noninvasive blood test for colorectal cancer screening

The FDA has approved Freenome's SimpleScreen CRC, a blood-based screening test for adults 45+ at average risk, offering a noninvasive option to detect colorectal cancer with results in weeks; in a large study, it detected about 80% of cancers and correctly ruled out cancer or advanced precancer in about 90% of those without disease, signaling potential to boost screening rates alongside existing tests, though costs and Stage 1 sensitivity remain under discussion.

Blood Protein Panel Aims to Forecast ALS Onset Years Before Symptoms
science27 days ago

Blood Protein Panel Aims to Forecast ALS Onset Years Before Symptoms

A Nature Medicine study identifies a 19-protein panel in blood plasma that predicts whether ALS-gene carriers will develop the disease within 6 months to 5 years, outperforming NEFL as a single-marker predictor and estimating time-to-onset with about a 1.6-year error. Many panel proteins relate to muscle biology, suggesting early muscle changes precede nerve degeneration. While promising, the panel is experimental, requiring validation and more accessible testing before clinical use; UK Biobank replication offered partial confirmation but with limitations due to its snapshot design.

Blood test signals Alzheimer’s risk up to a decade early
health1 month ago

Blood test signals Alzheimer’s risk up to a decade early

A Harvard-led study of nearly 2,700 cognitively healthy older adults found that a simple blood test measuring the p-tau217 biomarker can predict future cognitive decline up to 10 years before symptoms; very high levels were linked to about a 78% chance of impairment within a decade, and moderate elevations still carried roughly a 45% risk, suggesting the test could aid risk assessment and trial recruitment while recognizing that results must be confirmed across diverse groups and longer follow-up.

Blood test may diagnose endometriosis without surgery, study finds
health1 month ago

Blood test may diagnose endometriosis without surgery, study finds

Edinburgh researchers identified a distinct blood androgen profile in women with endometriosis, enabling correct identification of the condition in over 95% of cases in a small study; this could lead to a non-surgical diagnostic blood test, but requires validation in larger, more diverse populations and comparison with other hormonal conditions; industry partners are sought to develop the test, and researchers hope it could shorten diagnosis times that currently average more than a decade in Scotland.

ACS Expands Colon Cancer Screening With Blood and At-Home Stool Tests
health2 months ago

ACS Expands Colon Cancer Screening With Blood and At-Home Stool Tests

The American Cancer Society updated its colon cancer screening recommendations to include three newer options: two enhanced at-home stool tests (Cologuard Plus and ColoSense) that look for tumor DNA/RNA in stool, and a blood test (Shield) detecting cancer DNA in blood. The goal is to boost screening rates among adults 45–75 by offering more convenient options; stool tests are recommended every three years, the blood test at routine medical visits, and follow-up colonoscopy is still required if any test is positive. Colonoscopy remains the most effective method for detecting polyps and preventing cancer, but these tests provide additional access points and can reduce delays in screening. Insurance coverage varies by plan.

Multi-Cancer Blood Tests: Promise Hangs in the Balance
health4 months ago

Multi-Cancer Blood Tests: Promise Hangs in the Balance

Researchers are pursuing multi-cancer blood tests using DNA fragments and AI, with early signals like Mercury showing notable sensitivity across several cancers. Yet the largest Galleri trial did not reduce advanced cancer diagnoses or provide clear survival benefits, and test accuracy varies by cancer type. Experts say a universal one-test solution is unlikely; a portfolio of targeted tests and longer follow-up to prove life-saving value and enable insurer coverage is more plausible before routine use.

Blood Test pTau217 Signals Alzheimer's Risk Years Before Symptoms
health4 months ago

Blood Test pTau217 Signals Alzheimer's Risk Years Before Symptoms

A study of 317 cognitively healthy adults over about eight years shows that the blood biomarker pTau217 tracks brain amyloid and tau buildup and can predict future Alzheimer's pathology years before signs appear, potentially matching or prefiguring PET scans. While promising, researchers caution that more diverse data and validation are needed before clinical use, and not all biomarker-positive individuals progress to dementia.

Blood Test Signals Dementia Risk Decades Before Onset
science5 months ago

Blood Test Signals Dementia Risk Decades Before Onset

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.

New Blood Biomarker Panel Maps How Fast You Age
science5 months ago

New Blood Biomarker Panel Maps How Fast You Age

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.

Blood protein test flags dementia risk decades before symptoms
health5 months ago

Blood protein test flags dementia risk decades before symptoms

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.