Swedish scientists have developed a groundbreaking blood test capable of detecting Alzheimer’s disease with remarkable accuracy, comparable to current methods such as MRIs or lumbar punctures.

This test, called p-tau217, measures the concentration of specific proteins in the blood that are associated with the brain degeneration characteristic of the disease.

The test significantly simplifies the diagnostic process: it is less invasive, less expensive, and can be used in the early stages of the disease, well before severe symptoms appear.

For instance, a clinical study published in 2023 demonstrated that p-tau217 could detect the disease with 85 to 90% accuracy, long before it becomes visible on brain imaging.

This breakthrough offers new opportunities for mass screening and research into treatments. If widely implemented, the test could revolutionize the management of Alzheimer’s by enabling early interventions and facilitating the development of new drugs targeting the disease's early stages.