About one in 10 people in the UK aged 70 and over could have brain changes linked to Alzheimer’s disease, according to the first large population-based study of its kind.
The research, published in Nature, used a blood test to detect Alzheimer’s-related proteins in nearly 11,500 randomly selected people. While the findings do not equal a diagnosis, they suggest more than 1 million over-70s could meet NHS criteria for anti-amyloid treatment – far higher than current estimates.
The study found prevalence rises sharply with age, reaching about a third of people in their 70s and two-thirds of those over 90. Experts say the results could transform early detection, but warn the NHS could not currently afford to treat everyone who might benefit.
