Study sheds light on the prognostic value of blood test for predicting cognitive impairment risk

https://www.news-medical.net/news/20260715/Study-sheds-light-on-the-prognostic-value-of-blood-test-for-predicting-cognitive-impairment-risk.aspx A blood test for the biomarker phosphorylated tau 217 (p-tau217) recently received federal clearance, but questions have emerged around the extent to which such tests can accurately predict whether a cognitively healthy individual will go on to develop cognitive impairment-a key symptom of Alzheimer's disease. A new, international study involving researchers across three continents and led by experts from the Mass General Brigham Neuroscience Institute sheds new light on the prognostic value of such tests. The study found that cognitively unimpaired individuals with very high levels of the biomarker had a 38% absolute risk of developing cognitive impairment over the next five years-and higher risk over the next 10 years. Results are presented at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference and simultaneously published in JAMA.