New accurate test to predict dementia 10 years in advance

What’s the news: Scientists identify 3 proteins to predict dementia 10 years in advance.

Why should we believe it: This news is based on a new study published yesterday by scientists in China. They used data from the UK BioBank. This is a detailed medical database of 52,465 individuals, followed up for 14+ years.

The scientists looked at blood proteins and compared people who developed dementia to those who didn't. They found that blood levels of three proteins — NEFL, GFAP, and GDF15 — accurately predicted dementia 10 years in advance, with few false positives.

Why this is a big deal: We still have no treatments to reverse Alzheimer's, the most common cause of dementia. But in the past year alone, two new new treatments were approved to slow down the disease.

Some Alzheimer's scientists say that with an accurate way to predict Alzheimer's, the current treatments could postpone the disease for good. And now, with this new research, we have an accurate test to predict Alzheimer's and other types of dementia.

So what specifically can you do now: In theory, a test for these blood proteins could be rolled out tomorrow. In practice, it might take a while before it becomes standard procedure in most doctors' offices. It's worth asking, and maybe nagging.

In the meantime, keep reading The Longevity Newsletter, where I will update you on the latest brain health news.