Watch: Doctors Use Spinal Test For Alzheimer’s

In the past, testing to diagnose the disease has usually been done after patients start showing symptoms. But a new spinal fluid test is being researched for its ability to predict the disease before any symptoms are present.

The test looks for traces of certain proteins in fluid obtained by a spinal tap, which, in early testing, has proven to to be 90 percent accurate in diagnosing the disease.

The test was also able to detect, with near-100 percent accuracy, which people with memory impairments would progress to Alzheimer’s within five years.

Currently, only an autopsy can confirm that a person had Alzheimer’s.

The disease is fatal and is responsible for incurable deterioration of the brain. Read more…