MEDICATION & RESEARCH Put to the Test


Patrick Holford, Founder of foodforthebrain.org, asks: Are blood tests for Alzheimer’s worth it or a waste of money?


You may have heard of a search for new tests to find those most likely to get Alzheimer’s disease. But is this misdirected?


Perhaps so, according to the Alzheimer’s Prevention Expert


Group (APEG) – a collaboration of top UK, American and Chinese academics


who consider this to be “... a misguided waste of money”. Controversially, their stance challenges the major thrust of charities, such as Alzheimer’s Research UK (ARUK), which strongly supports the search for a reliable test for the disease.


APEG explains that there is already a widely used way to spot failing memory and thinking skills – hallmarks for dementia and Alzheimer’s. These include a neuropsychological test battery (NTB) and a Cognitive Function Test (CFT). Both are routinely used in memory clinics to diagnose mild cognitive impairment and support the diagnosis of dementia.


again there is a problem. Detecting it can be done with a lumbar puncture, but this is a risky and expensive process and certainly not suitable to test tens of thousands of people.


At first sight, if a blood test could identify those heading towards Alzheimer’s earlier this could be a cheaper and less invasive alternative to such scans. However, the search is likely driven by a quite different ulterior motive – to create and sell drugs – much like cholesterol and statins. What’s more it’s unlikely to be an improvement.


A recent New York Times article pointed out that, such a test would result in people being diagnosed with ‘pre’ Alzheimer’s, even if they have no obvious symptoms. That’s because having the marker would be considered enough to justify a diagnosis of the disease or, at least, the prescription of a drug.


This is what happens with amyloid protein: amyloid forms plaque in the brains of those with Alzheimer’s. The latest drugs, such as lecanemab and aducanumab, remove this. But not all those with Alzheimer’s have plaque, and people can develop dementia without plaque. What’s more none of these drugs have a clinically significant effect, and they come with the risk of severe adverse


“The search is likely driven by a quite different ulterior motive – to create and sell drugs.”


Over the last decade, the charity foodforthebrain.org has used the CFT to find people at risk and advise them how to reduce their risk with simple dietary and lifestyle changes. They have already tested nearly half a million people and intend to test many, many more.


Cognitive function declines steadily from the age of 18. This means that it is possible to spot individuals whose cognitive function is dropping off faster than the average, giving time to encourage preventative actions with personalised advice on their diet and lifestyle changes.


Alzheimer’s, which makes up two-thirds of dementia cases, involves the shrinking of certain areas of the brain as neurons die off. It can be detected with a specialised brain scan several years before a diagnosis. These PET scans can be used to diagnose Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia. The trouble is that such scans are expensive and not likely performed early enough to discover those ‘at risk’.


As well as shrinkage, another marker for Alzheimer’s is a toxic protein called p-tau. This creates clumps of tangled nerves in the brain. These can be found in the fluid that bathes the brain, but


- 26 - www.tomorrowscare.co.uk


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