US-based healthcare company Labcorp has announced the country-wide launch of its new blood-based test, dubbed ATN Profile, to advance the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease.
ATN Profile combines three blood biomarkers to identify amyloid plaques, tau tangles and neurodegeneration (ATN), the biological changes associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
The new blood-based test is offered through physicians for use with patients evaluated for possible Alzheimer’s disease or other cognitive impairment diseases.
It will be offered based on clinical observation and cognitive screenings, said the company.
Labcorp chief medical and scientific officer Brian Caveney said: “Many patients experience uncertainty around Alzheimer’s disease risk, which can take months or even years to diagnose.
“More definitive testing, including our new ATN profile, can provide objective insights to patients, their loved ones, and treating physicians as they navigate care and treatment.”
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia that involves a slow build-up of protein plaques and tangles in the brain that eventually cause neurodegeneration, where brain cells stop working properly and die.
According to the company, specifically identifying biological changes associated with Alzheimer’s disease has been difficult through widely available methods.
The standard approach includes a physical exam, routine blood and urine tests, and cognitive testing, which may not provide definite results, leading to delayed referral to a specialist.
Labcorp said that its new ATN Profile provides physicians with an easily usable blood test to evaluate people with Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative conditions.
Through ATN Profile, the company aims to support better care and outcomes for those impacted by Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative conditions.
In addition, it will continue to conduct studies on ATN testing to help enhance patient care and the development of new drugs to treat and manage the disease, said the healthcare company.
Caveney added: “Labcorp’s ATN Profile provides easier identification of biological changes consistent with Alzheimer’s disease and offers the promise of an accelerated path to diagnosis.
“This new blood biomarker test, which is widely available through physicians, will support the diagnostic and referral process for Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative causes of dementia and impaired cognitive function.”
