New testing system for memory loss risk devised

Research has discovered that a combination of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans and blood tests can help to diagnose how susceptible patients may be to the risk of memory loss.

Scientists from Wayne State University made the discovery after trialling five different testing methods among 78 healthy elderly patients as a means of predicting cognitive decline caused by Alzheimer's or similar conditions.

It was found that blood tests for a certain genetic marker, the APOE epsilon-4 allele, combined with a five-minute functional MRI scan, were able to correctly classify 78.9 percent of patients.

In addition to being the best predictors available, these two testing options are already readily available to clinicians and can be performed quickly without the need for any special training.

Dr John Woodard, lead author of the study, said: "Use of these tests could play a major role in development of medications for prevention of Alzheimer's and other dementias."

This comes in the same month that the UK government announced plans to increase the country's dementia research budget in order to address the growing healthcare need.