We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress hp
Sign In
Advertise with Us

Download Mobile App




Blood Test Shows Promise for Early Detection of Dementia

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 19 Mar 2025

Idiopathic REM sleep behavior disorder (iRBD) causes individuals to physically act out their dreams while sleeping. More...

This disorder is strongly linked to a high risk of developing Parkinson’s disease and a related condition known as Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB). DLB is a type of dementia that leads to memory and cognitive decline, as well as vivid visual hallucinations and motor difficulties similar to Parkinson’s. Early detection of dementia risk could significantly influence how doctors manage patient care, allowing them to plan ahead and potentially offer more tailored, effective treatments. Now, a simple blood test could offer the potential to predict dementia development years before symptoms manifest in those with this sleep disorder.

Researchers at McGill University (Quebec, Canada) have found that a blood test initially created to detect Alzheimer’s disease could also help identify which iRBD patients are at higher risk of developing Dementia with Lewy Bodies. This test measures two proteins in the blood that are biomarkers for Alzheimer’s. In the study, the researchers followed 150 iRBD patients, taking annual blood samples to test for the biomarkers and tracking their health over time.

Remarkably, the blood test conducted four years prior successfully predicted dementia in nearly 90% of the patients who eventually developed the condition. Published in the journal Brain, the study also suggests that the early stages of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s share more similarities than previously recognized. The research team plans to expand the study to evaluate the test’s ability to predict dementia risk in individuals already diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and in other groups at risk for Dementia with Lewy Bodies.

"Our findings suggest that Alzheimer’s treatments could also be tested in patients with this sleep disorder. Perhaps, if treatments start early enough, Dementia with Lewy Bodies can be prevented,” said first author Dr. Aline Delva.


New
Gold Member
Cardiovascular Risk Test
Metabolic Syndrome Array I & II
Portable Electronic Pipette
Mini 96
New
Pipette
Accumax Smart Series
New
Autoimmune Liver Diseases Assay
Microblot-Array Liver Profile Kit
Read the full article by registering today, it's FREE! It's Free!
Register now for FREE to LabMedica.com and get access to news and events that shape the world of Clinical Laboratory Medicine.
  • Free digital version edition of LabMedica International sent by email on regular basis
  • Free print version of LabMedica International magazine (available only outside USA and Canada).
  • Free and unlimited access to back issues of LabMedica International in digital format
  • Free LabMedica International Newsletter sent every week containing the latest news
  • Free breaking news sent via email
  • Free access to Events Calendar
  • Free access to LinkXpress new product services
  • REGISTRATION IS FREE AND EASY!
Click here to Register








Channels

Hematology

view channel
Image: New research points to protecting blood during radiation therapy (Photo courtesy of 123RF)

Pioneering Model Measures Radiation Exposure in Blood for Precise Cancer Treatments

Scientists have long focused on protecting organs near tumors during radiotherapy, but blood — a vital, circulating tissue — has largely been excluded from dose calculations. Each blood cell passing through... Read more

Immunology

view channel
Image: The test could streamline clinical decision-making by identifying ideal candidates for immunotherapy upfront (Xiao, Y. et al. Cancer Biology & Medicine July 2025, 20250038)

Blood Test Predicts Immunotherapy Efficacy in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive subtype lacking targeted therapies, making immunotherapy a promising yet unpredictable option. Current biomarkers such as PD-L1 expression or tumor... Read more

Technology

view channel
Image: The sensor can help diagnose diabetes and prediabetes on-site in a few minutes using just a breath sample (Photo courtesy of Larry Cheng/Penn State)

Graphene-Based Sensor Uses Breath Sample to Identify Diabetes and Prediabetes in Minutes

About 37 million U.S. adults live with diabetes, and one in five is unaware of their condition. Diagnosing diabetes often requires blood draws or lab visits, which are costly and inconvenient.... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2025 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.