Teams of Taiwan-based scientists have created the first blood test to predict Alzheimer's Disease, AsiaOne news reported.
The discovery was made by teams from National Taiwan Normal University Institute of Electro-optical Science and Technology working with National Taiwan University Hospital's Neurology Department.
The test, based on immunomagnetic reduction technology which determines concentrations of certain bio markers, is able to predict the likelihood of Alzheimer's disease in patients as many as eight to 10 years earlier than is possible now.
Earlier detection of Alzheimer's disease can help put patients on the right treatment path sooner.
The new test uses metal nanopowder, which has developed into a significant tool in medicine. Nanoparticles serve as a platform through which scientists and the medical world can deliver drugs to diseased areas in patients.
For example, doctors can deliver medicine into tumors, according to a report called "Nanoparticles in modern medicine: State of the art and future challenges," published in the International Journal of Nanomedicine.
The use of nanotechnology in modern medicine continues to present new solutions to age-old problems and diseases.
As for the new blood test, it represents a step forward for Alzheimer's specialists and patients because the process currently used can be risky. The current method for testing for Alzheimer's disease involves drawing spinal fluid from the patient, and it takes roughly a week for results to come back.
However, there is a drawback. A patient's knowledge that he or she may develop Alzheimer's disease in a few years can lead to depression from the test results, the AsiaOne news report indicated.
