The test, which has yet to be approved by the FDA, measures amyloid particles and protein that indicate a genetic risk for Alzheimer’s disease.
At the moment, it is aimed at people aged 60 years and older who are being evaluated for the disease. Doctors can order the test, with results arriving in 10 days.
While some in the field are seeing it as a breakthrough in dementia diagnoses, others are sceptical about its accuracy, given the fact the company, C2N Diagnostics, has yet to publish data on its accuracy.
The company does claim the test compares well with PET brain scan results, which are currently used in the diagnosis of dementia
“I would be cautious about interpreting any of these things,” said Dr. Eliezer Masliah, neuroscience chief at the U.S. National Institute on Aging, on the company’s claims.
“We’re encouraged, we’re interested, we’re funding this work but we want to see results.”
