Skin Test for Alzheimer’s Disease
from Technology Review: A Skin Test for Alzheimer’s Disease
Researchers at the Blanchette Rockefeller Neurosciences Institute (BRNI), in Morgantown, WV, have developed a test that detects enzymes that are dysfunctional in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. These enzymes (PKCs) are involved in long-term memory storage and are found in both the brain and in skin cells. Large scale clinical trials are about to begin. In a preliminary trial with 600 patients, the test correctly diagnosed 36 out of 37 patients confirmed on autopsy to have the disease, as well as 5 patients confirmed on autopsy not to have it. [ed.: Does this mean that they incorrectly diagnosed 5 patients or that they correctly confirmed 5 cases that were suspected to have something other than Alzheimer's?]
A “real” test for Alzheimer’s…I hope we get to see this or another accurate test in the relatively near future.