A new blood test can show Alzheimer risk up to 20 years before symptoms. Private clinics offer the test to healthy people, drawing criticism from doctors.
A blood test measuring the Alzheimer marker p-tau217 can detect the disease early. The test is used in specialist care in Sweden combined with other methods.
Primary care centers are advised to deny tests to people who are merely worried. This has opened the way for private actors to offer the test to healthy individuals, including in Stockholm.
Chief physician Henrik Zetterberg warns that some tests are unreliable and can give wrong results. He says a positive result must be investigated further.
Madelene Johanzon notes that no approved medicine exists yet. She sees risks such as people quitting work early or worrying unnecessarily.
