About one in 10 people in the UK aged 70 and over may have brain changes linked to Alzheimer’s disease, according to the largest population-based study of its kind.
The research, published in Nature, used a blood biomarker test on nearly 11,500 people and suggests more than 1 million over-70s could meet current NHS criteria for anti-amyloid treatment, far more than previous estimates.
The findings do not mean those affected have dementia, but they could allow much earlier detection. Researchers say the results could transform diagnosis, although experts warn the NHS could not currently afford to treat everyone eligible with existing drugs.
