<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A new blood test could be able to clock when someone may begin to have symptoms of Alzheimer's </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/disease" rel="" target="_blank" title="disease"><span>disease</span></a><span>, an </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/usa" rel="" target="_blank" title="American"><span>American</span></a><span> study claims.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Alzheimer's is the cause of up to 75 per cent of </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/dementia" rel="" target="_blank" title="dementia"><span>dementia</span></a><span> diagnoses in Australia, with 425,000 people living with dementia in 2024. That number is expected to rise to 1 million by 2065.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Alzheimer's Research Australia says around 250 people are diagnosed with dementia everyday, and it is the second leading cause of death in the country.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>AS IT HAPPENED:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/andrew-mountbatten-windsor-arrested-live-updates-latest-news-headlines/9fe3f636-cf46-4094-97aa-04f98f733ac2" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>'Where the bodies are buried': Andrew arrest could bring down others</span></strong></a><span></span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Dementia, which is incurable, costs the Australian </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/government" rel="" target="_blank" title="government"><span>government</span></a><span> around $4.7 billion a year, but </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/research" rel="" target="_blank" title="researchers"><span>researchers</span></a><span> from Washington University claim they can accurately identify when someone will begin to show symptoms of Alzheimer's, accurate to around four years.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The blood test measures the levels of a protein called p-tau217; stronger levels of this protein in someone's blood can indicate that someone has a higher chance of suffering from Alzheimer's.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>BREAKING NEWS:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/eric-dane-dead-greys-anatomy-euphoria-star-dies-53-als-motor-neurone-disease/bdaa156d-83d2-4c46-a545-41cc6060f3fc" rel="" target="_blank" title="Grey's Anatomy and Euphoria star Eric Dane dies aged 53"><strong><span>Grey's Anatomy and Euphoria star Eric Dane dies aged 53</span></strong></a><span></span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/health/alzheimers-disease-dementia-australia-blood-test/bb3e49cc-52ef-4ec1-b332-c657f00d79ee" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>This is especially true in patients who are already suffering from some form of cognitive impairment.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Previously, brain scans or spinal fluid tests were used to measure the level of p-tau within a person, and to ultimately test for risk factors of developing Alzheimer's, but researchers believe being able to do the same thing with a blood test can help catch symptoms quicker, while being significantly cheaper.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/james-tsindos-coroner-unsure-if-boys-death-after-eating-burrito-bowl-was-preventable/960ef8d5-76b6-4b9c-b2b0-9432f62eee5f" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Coroner unsure if boy's death after eating burrito bowl was preventable</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"In the near-term, these models will accelerate our research and clinical trials," Suzanne Schindler from Washington University said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The study's authors shared their findings publicly in the hope it would aid other research on the disease.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Eventually, the goal is to be able to tell individual patients when they are likely to develop symptoms, which will help them and their doctors to develop a plan to prevent or slow symptoms."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Early symptoms of Alzheimer's can include memory loss, confusion, and repetitive or vague speech</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><strong><span>NEVER MISS A STORY: Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></strong></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><p><em><strong><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727"><em><strong><span>Apple</span></strong></em></a><span> </span><em><strong><span>and</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1"><em><strong><span>Google Play</span></strong></em></a></p></li><li><p><em><strong><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w"><em><strong><span>ticking this box here</span></strong></em></a></p></li><li><p><em><strong><span>Sign up to</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine"><em><strong><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></strong></em></a></p></li></ul></div></div>