Multiple studies have come out showing a possible blood test to screen people for signs of dementia. These tests have an 88% accuracy and can help determine if a patient should have more extensive testing done. One study in Japan measured the amount of a certain kind of protein. This protein forms the plaques in the brain that are a sign of Alzheimer’s. Another test in London looked at neurofilament light in a patient’s blood. Neurofilament light is a protein that shows that there is nerve damage.

A researcher in St. Louis has a test, similar to the one developed in Japan, that measures the protein from the plaques. Both the U.S. government and the Alzheimer’s association are in support of this test and the lead researcher says a test for patients could be created in as little as three years. Although there still is no cure for Alzheimer’s, a recent poll has shown that people would want to know if they had the genes for a certain disease even if there currently was no cure.