FDA Approves First Alzheimer's Blood Test For Americans As Young As 40
- Reference: 0185131832
- News link: https://science.slashdot.org/story/26/08/24/1637252/fda-approves-first-alzheimers-blood-test-for-americans-as-young-as-40
- Source link:
> PrecivityAD2 is a single blood test that quickly assesses the proteins amyloid and tau, using mass spectrometry to measure plasma AB42/40 and p-tau217/np-tau217. The results are then scored, qualifying as negative, likely positive, or positive for AD. "Just over a year ago, there were no FDA-cleared blood tests for Alzheimer's, and now we have three," Isobel Coleman, chief executive officer of the Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF), said in [2]a statement . "This is a proof point that sustained, early investment in translational science plays a catalytic role in moving promising ideas from the lab to patients."
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> In a recent clinical validation study, 1,142 symptomatic adults were tested using PrecivityAD2. The process accurately identified 97.6% of positive biomarkers. What's more, the results remained consistent even in patients with comorbidities like chronic kidney disease and diabetes, which can distort plasma amyloid samples. It's worth noting that the test isn't intended for general health screenings, but for patients who already show some cognitive decline. "As PrecivityAD2 and tools like it move further into clinical practice, they will enable earlier detection, sharpen clinical trials, and build the foundation for precision medicine and combination therapies," Coleman added.
[1] https://newatlas.com/brain/alzheimers-dementia/fda-approves-first-alzheimers-blood-test/
[2] https://www.alzdiscovery.org/news-room/announcements/fda-clearance-of-c2n-diagnostics-precivityad2-blood-test-advances-precision-medicine-for-alzheimers-building-on-groundwork-laid-by-early-addf-investment
What can be done in case of a positive test? (Score:2)
If one tests positive in their 40s, are there actions they can take to mitigate the onset, or will it become something that will just stress you out and make it worse?
Re: (Score:1)
No, but you can prepare your suicide before it's too late.
Re: (Score:2, Informative)
Ironically there are treatments that show efficacy but they range between not FDA approved and illegal.
You can go to Mexico or the Caribbean for some of them (or find underground psychiatrists).
Getting lots of regular sleep, exercise, and going ketogenic can dramatically slow progression but there is a tau prion aspect that is difficult to halt. Lots of Omega-3's can keep your astrocytes healthy.
Some evidence supports ultrasound treatment but it's probably the higher harmonics which are not well characteriz
Re: What can be done in case of a positive test? (Score:2)
Are you suggesting that Alzheimerâ(TM)s is sexually transmitted?
Re: (Score:2)
Currently, there are no known functional cures for AD. There exist a number of treatments (monoclonal antibodies) for which there is supporting evidence for slowing cognitive decline and delaying the progression of functional disability, but the effect size is generally modest. To be fair, some people seem to be stronger responders than others; however, these amyloid-targeting treatments also have a risk of ARIA (amyloid-related imaging abnormalities), which are associated with microvascular hemorrhages (
Hard to trust trump FDA (Score:1, Insightful)
Anything approved by the FDA today has to be suspect.
Re: (Score:1)
What if it is not approved by the FDA? No issue?
What's The Point? (Score:2)
What's the point of this? If you test positive, you get a label and there is no treatment. Are you going to go on Aricept and be walking around like a zombie for the next 30 years?
I can see a small few cases where this test would be useful for anything but putting a name on your condition. I suppose having a named disease is comforting for some. But, for me, having no treatment options makes it rather pointless.
Re: (Score:2)
If caught early enough, you can make lifestyle changes which dramatically impact the course of the disease.
Of course, there's nothing stopping you from making these changes now.
Diet, exercise, get off your screens and get some sunshine is always good medical advice.
Re: (Score:2)
I think you mean get on your screen and do mentally taxing memory and puzzle games.
Long term care insurance (Score:3)
You have the marker, and they won't issue you a long term care insurance policy, or Exclude alzheimers from it.
The test will be up front and mandatory.
Re: Long term care insurance (Score:2)
They can't do that until they finish destroying the ACA
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> Diet, exercise, get off your screens and get some sunshine is always good medical advice.
So, die of skin cancer instead of Alzheimer's?
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You're gonna die of something, so make your choice.
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So, die of skin cancer instead of Alzheimer's?
Nope, [1]there's now a vaccine [slashdot.org] for that.
[1] https://science.slashdot.org/story/26/08/19/1725205/moderna-merck-say-mrna-vaccine-prevents-melanoma-from-returning
Re: (Score:2)
Knowing earlier could give studies more sample data.
Re: (Score:1)
Knowing when it's time to self checkout before you get to the point where you can't anymore. That's the only reason I'd want to know.
Beware of biomarkers and false positives (Score:1)
First, the test “measures amyloid and tau biomarkers” and such biomarkers don’t always lead to Alzheimer’s.
Second, the 97 percent “accuracy” cited in the article is about correctly detecting the biomarkers and can be very misleading without also accounting for false positives.
Specifically, even if we assume the biomarkers are definitive, and we also assume that 11 percent of the population will develop Alzheimer’s by age 82, then an 8 percent false-positive rate wou
Alzheimer's isn't all bad -- (Score:4, Funny)
You're always meeting new people.