Researchers have discovered a new method to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease early by analyzing blood.

They have discovered certain biomarkers in the blood that can reduce the impact of dementia, an incurable disease affecting the brain.

A biomarker is a detectable substance found in the body, such as a protein or chemical, that helps identify or monitor diseases such as Alzheimer’s or diabetes, making diagnosis and treatment more accurate and timely.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Alzheimer’s disease, which accounts for 60-70% of dementia cases, affects more than 33 million people worldwide.

University of Melbourne researcher Dr Brandon Mahan led a team of analytical geochemists in collaboration with neuroscientists from the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences.

The team has developed a blood test that aims to detect Alzheimer’s earlier than current methods.

Their research, published in Metallomics, is the first to adopt inorganic geochemistry techniques used in cosmochemistry to detect early biomarkers of Alzheimer’s in human blood.

The team examined potassium isotope levels in blood samples from 20 individuals taken through the Australian Imaging, Biomarkers and Lifestyle Study, 10 of whom had Alzheimer’s and 10 who did not.

Their minimally invasive test, which measures potassium isotopes, has shown promising results in diagnosing Alzheimer’s before cognitive symptoms appear, making early intervention possible.

“Our test is scalable and avoids the stability issues seen in protein-based diagnostics because it focuses on inorganic biomarkers,” said Dr. Mahan.

Current clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer’s relies on medical history, cognitive and neurological assessments, and protein analysis from cerebrospinal fluid or blood samples.

Dr. Mahan highlighted the potential benefits of early diagnosis, including lifestyle changes and medications that can slow the progression of the disease.

This will give affected families more time to prepare and will also expand the eligibility of patients for clinical trials.

Flory’s co-author, Professor Ashley Bush, acknowledged the success of the pilot study in detecting Alzheimer’s and said further research is needed to refine the diagnostic technique.

“Our blood test may compete with current diagnostic methods, but much work still needs to be done to determine its full utility,” he said.

Due to the aging of the global population, cases of Alzheimer’s disease are expected to double every 20 years, and its economic impact is estimated to reach $2.8 trillion by 2030.

More than 421,000 people in Australia live with dementia, making it the second leading cause of death in the country and the leading cause of death among women.

In India, an estimated 8.8 million people over the age of 60 suffer from dementia, which is more prevalent in women than men.