Plasma p-tau217 identifies cognitively normal older adults who will develop cognitive impairment in a 10-year window.

Summary: Imagine a simple blood test that can look into the future of your brain health. Scientists have discovered that measuring a specific protein in the blood, called p-tau217, can predict memory problems up to 10 years before they actually start. In a study of older adults who seemed perfectly healthy, those with high levels of this protein were much more likely to develop mild cognitive impairment later on. When doctors combined this test with a check for another protein (amyloid), the prediction became even more accurate. This breakthrough could help doctors spot the risk of Alzheimer’s disease much earlier than before.