Test that could identify Alzheimer's signs 20 years earlier greenlit for trials

The ability to test for signs of Alzheimer's disease decades earlier could be a step closer with a new blood test set for clinical trials within months.Laboratory test "pTau217" is thought to give results in as little as 18 minutes and can detect changes in the brain decades before someone might develop symptoms.It works by detecting a protein called phosphorylated tau 217 which is a biomarker for a build up of amyloid plaque in the brain.This sticky plaque is thought to play a central role in Alzheimer’s disease.The Therapeutic Goods Administration has approved the pTau217 test which researchers announced at the launch of the Asia-Pacific Centre of Excellence for Alzheimer's Disease Diagnosis in Sydney.The centre is a collaboration between medical research group NeuRA and pharmaceutical company Roche aims to enable earlier and more accurate detection through advanced blood-based biomarker testing.According to the Alzheimer's Association, the disease is the most common form of dementia in Australia.It affects memory, thinking and behaviour, with symptoms developing enough to interfere with daily tasks, the association says.Medical research group Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA) said it would "alleviate the burden of delayed and uncertain diagnosis" for Alzheimer's.A spokesperson said the rollout for doctors to refer patients was expected in the next six to nine months.NeuRA chief executive Professor Matthew Kiernan said the blood test had been approved for clinical trials."Having regulatory approval of these blood tests is a new frontier for Alzheimer's care," Professor Kiernan said.The body said the new centre addressed a critical gap for tackling the disease in Australia and Asia-Pacific."The Centre of Excellence will enable earlier and more accurate Alzheimer's detection through advanced blood-based and spinal fluid biomarker testing, positioning NSW as a national hub for dementia diagnostics, clinical trials and research innovation," a NeuRA spokesperson said.Roche Diagnostics Australia general manager Anand Vairavan said Alzheimer's diagnosis was "currently extremely slow and complex" and undertaken with "expensive imaging and invasive lumbar punctures"."It's about the gift of time," Mr Vairavan said.Federal Health Minister Mark Butler said there had been an "almost structural delay in people getting an effective diagnosis of the different forms of dementia"."Finding a blood test for biomarkers is a holy grail for this disease," Mr Butler said."It will be a huge advance in this enormous challenge we have."PM hails 'massive breakthrough'Dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, accounted for over 17,500 deaths in 2024, and was now the nation's leading cause of death, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.NeuRA said the human, social and economic toll of dementia was immense, with "annual costs already surpassing $4.7 billion" and increased pressure on clinicians and the health system.Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the annoucnement "provides hope". (ABC News: Matt Roberts)Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told ABC News Breakfast the announcement was a "massive breakthrough"."This could be a massive breakthrough," Mr Albanese said."It's really important and provides hope at a time where I think the world needs more hope and less fear as we go forward."Mr Albanese said the disease was a tragedy that affected many families."I lost a good friend of mine — he passed away on Monday, Chris Raper, who was a union official at the Miscellaneous Workers Union, and a dear friend."He was severely affected, as so many Australians are by dementia."