- Australians experiencing signs of cognitive decline can now be tested for Alzheimer’s disease using a highly accurate and less invasive blood test.
- A Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health accredited pathology lab is the first in Australia to make the TGA-approved test available to clinicians.
- Based on decades of Florey research, the biomarker test can help doctors rule in or rule out Alzheimer’s disease — the most common form of dementia.
Australians for the first time will have access to a new blood test for Alzheimer’s disease with a 90 per cent accuracy rate.
The National Dementia Diagnostics Laboratory (NDDL), based at The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health in Melbourne, this month became the first Australian laboratory in Australia to make the test available to patients via their clinician.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration approved the Roche Elecsys pTau217 blood test in July, paving the way for it to become available as a diagnostic test for Alzheimer’s disease.
Doctors can order the test for patients aged 55 years and older who are showing signs or symptoms of cognitive decline. It measures a modified form of the tau protein in blood to help detect brain changes linked to Alzheimer’s disease.
Alzheimer’s disease is caused by the build-up of amyloid beta and tau in the brain. Over time these proteins cause sticky plaque and tangles to form, affecting a person’s memory, thinking and behaviour.
The Florey’s Head of Dementia Research, Professor Scott Ayton, said the pTau217 test can help determine — alongside other clinical assessments — whether or not a person has Alzheimer’s.
“This is a landmark moment for Australian patients, for clinicians and for Florey researchers who have worked over many years to develop a highly accurate and less invasive pathway to diagnosis for Alzheimer’s disease,” Professor Ayton said.
“People experiencing Alzheimer’s symptoms can face significant delays in getting a diagnosis, while many go undiagnosed. This test should alleviate some of that uncertainty.
“The Florey-led Enhanced Dementia Diagnosis Study is partnering with clinicians to integrate a pTau217 the test into clinical practice.
“And while we are not there yet, in future it may be possible to use this test to screen for Alzheimer’s disease before symptoms appear.”
Royal Melbourne Hospital neurologist and NDDL co-lead, Associate Professor Nawaf Yassi, said the pTau217 test gives clinicians another diagnostic option.
“This is a significant advance in the way that we diagnose Alzheimer’s disease, the most common cause of dementia,” Associate Professor Yassi said.
“It is very important to remember that the diagnosis is ultimately based on careful clinical assessment, but having a blood test available means many more people can get an answer and get it sooner.
“The NDDL now offers the pTau217 test alongside its cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) testing biomarker service, so clinicians can choose the approach that suits the patient.
“At this point, the test is for people who already have cognitive symptoms. More research will be needed to understand how it performs as a screening test in people without symptoms.”
*Please note this test can only be accessed with a doctor’s referral. Results may take 2-3 weeks.
