UK to Begin Nationwide Blood Test Trials for Dementia

[Maxmars]

This seems like a positive development for the early treatment of Alzheimer's, at the very least.  Apparently, the NHS is ready to embark on a large-scale trials to evaluate the effectiveness of blood tests in diagnosing dementia.
 

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Thousands of people in the UK are to take part in countrywide trials to identify accurate and quick blood tests that can diagnose dementia, led by research teams at UCL and Dementias Platform UK, based at the University of Oxford.

The trials will capitalise on recent breakthroughs in potential dementia blood tests to generate the evidence needed for them to be used in the NHS within the next 5 years.

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From NeuroscienceNews.com: UK to Begin Nationwide Blood Test Trials for Dementia

I found it troubling that they have a problem with the number of patients who can access the current testing methods, an abysmal 2%.
 

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Currently, people are usually diagnosed using memory tests and brain scans. These are less accurate than ‘gold standard’ tests like PET scans or lumbar punctures, which can confirm what type of dementia they have. However, only 2% of people can access these specialist tests.

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What could be the reason for such a low number of people?

Further on...
 

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This reflects levels of two hallmark proteins found inside the brain in Alzheimer’s disease – amyloid and tau. The researchers will carry out a clinical trial to see whether measuring p-tau217 in the blood increases the rate of diagnosis for Alzheimer’s disease both in people with early dementia, but also in those with mild, progressive problems with memory.

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While the report reads like a press release from the organization, it remains an optimistic development, if it all holds true, and they can correlate these protein levels across a large and diverse population.

[quintessentone]

This is great that they now have a blood test.

Doctors use two tests to measure tau buildup in the brain.
PET scans are a type of brain imaging technique. Known as a tau-PET, this imaging test uses a special dye to help doctors visualize tau tangles in the brain.
Doctors can also measure tau protein levels by testing the cerebrospinal fluid surrounding the brain. They can extract this fluid via a lumbar puncture, also known as a spinal tap.
Researchers are also exploring the possibility of using a blood-based marker of tau buildup called p-tauTrusted Source. In other words, detecting tau may soon be possible using a simple blood test.

https://www.healthline.com/health/alzhei...se#testing

I have recently switched our diet to a combo Mediterranean/Keto diet with lots of berries and pure olive oil just to see if there are improvements...there are immediate improvements. Although I am also detoxing with specific choice herbal teas, so it may be all of the above combined.

Anyway, as per the article above, they recommend the MIND DIET:

Here are the 10 foods the MIND diet encourages (11Trusted Source):

• Green, leafy vegetables: Aim for six or more servings per week. This includes kale, spinach, cooked greens, and salads.
  
• All other vegetables: Try to eat another vegetable in addition to the green leafy vegetables at least once per day. It’s best to choose non-starchy vegetables because they provide a lot of nutrients for a low number of calories.
  
• Berries: Eat berries at least twice per week. Berries such as strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries all have antioxidant benefits (6Trusted Source, 7Trusted Source).
  
• Nuts: Try to get five or more servings of nuts each week. The creators of the MIND diet don’t specify what kind of nuts to consume, but it is probably best to vary the type of nuts you eat to obtain a variety of nutrients.
  
• Olive oil: Use olive oil as your main cooking oil. Check out this article for information about the safety of cooking with olive oil.
  
• Whole grains: Aim for at least three servings daily. Choose whole grains like oatmeal, quinoa, brown rice, whole wheat pasta, and 100% whole wheat bread.
  
• Fish: Eat fish at least once per week. It is best to choose fatty fish such as salmon, sardines, trout, tuna, and mackerel for their high amounts of omega-3 fatty acids.
  
• Beans: Include beans in at least four meals per week. This category includes all beans, lentils, and soybeans.
  
• Poultry: Try to eat chicken or turkey at least twice per week. Note that fried chicken is not encouraged on the MIND diet.
  
• Wine: Aim for no more than one glass daily. Both red and white wine may benefit your brain. While there has been much interest in the compound resveratrol, which is found in red wine, recent research has questioned whether it has clear benefits in humans.
  

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/min...ITLE_HDR_3

One doctor I am following suggests that pecan nuts are the best nut to eat because they are rich in Omega-3 fatty acids and any imbalance of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids can cause many negative health issues, but I suppose you can also get extra Omega-3 fatty acids from eggs, which are recommended very highly as well.

And then there is this...

A new study by Upstate Medical University researchers shows that recreational cannabis use may offer protection against cognitive decline.
The study, done by Master of Public Health (MPH) student Zhi Chen and Professor Roger Wong, Ph.D., MPH, MSW, analyzed a large data set from the CDC and found that compared to non-users, non-medical cannabis use, such as for recreational purposes, was significantly associated with 96 percent decreased odds of subjective cognitive decline (SCD).

SCD is an important outcome of interest as prior research shows individuals with SCD have a 2 times higher risk for dementia, which currently has no cure or definitive prevention approaches.

Data for this study was obtained from 4,744 U.S. adults aged 45 and older in the 2021 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). SCD was a self-reported increase in confusion or memory loss in the past year.

The study, which was published in Current Alzheimer Research was Chen’s final project in the Advanced Biostatistics course in the MPH program taught by Wong. 

“Based on our findings, we don’t see the CBD in medical cannabis being beneficial for cognitive health,” Wong said.

https://neurosciencenews.com/cannabis-de...ogy-25884/

[FlyersFan]

What could be the reason for such a low number of people?

Memory problems happen to older people.  Older people don't have the insurance like they  used to be able to afford that would pay for tests like that.   It's usually medicare or nothing.  So I'm thinking that could be the reason ... no money to pay for testing.

[Maxmars]

Memory problems happen to older people.  Older people don't have the insurance like they  used to be able to afford that would pay for tests like that.   It's usually medicare or nothing.  So I'm thinking that could be the reason ... no money to pay for testing.

But I though cost of care to patient wasn't an issue in the UK (socialized medicine) or am I mistaken?