Japan Approves Blood Test Kit to Detect Alzheimer’s Disease

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Japan appears to be making some headway in its research on Alzheimer’s disease. According to the CDC, “Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia. It is a progressive disease beginning with mild memory loss and possibly leading to loss of the ability to carry on a conversation and respond to the environment.” It involves parts of the brain that control language, memory and thought.

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As relayed by multiple outlets, Japan’s Sysmex Corp had indicated that it’s received regulatory approval for a blood test that will allow it to detect something called “amyloid beta” in the brain. Amyloid beta is characteristic of Alzheimer’s.

“Sysmex has been developing a technology to more quickly and readily identify the accumulation of [amyloid beta] in the brain in order to solve issues in the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease,” the company said.

“Unlike conventional testing methods … [the kit] allows testing with blood, thus reducing the physical, emotional, and financial burden on patients,”

Blood Test Kit to Detect Alzheimer’s Disease

Such a method of testing would be considerably less intrusive than those used for Alzheimer’s. Which generally involves a brain scan and spinal tap.

While a Japanese company is behind this latest development, it most certainly is being looked upon favorably by the entire world.

As the US-based Alzheimer’s Association said on its website, “an urgent need exists for simple, inexpensive, non-invasive and easily available diagnostic tools such as blood tests to diagnose the disease.

“In the future, they are very likely to revolutionize the diagnostic process for Alzheimer’s and all other dementia.”

Two proteins, knowns as tau and amyloid beta, build up plaques known together as aggregates, causing brain cells to die and lead to brain shrinkage, resulting in Alzheimer’s.

Read More: Tony Bennett Reveals He Has Been Diagnosed With Alzheimer’s

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