New Blood Test PrecivityAD

Dave Hannon

Hi there, I'm just curious if anyone on here has experience with this test. From what I've read it's available but not yet FDA cleared (?) but seems like a much simpler way to confirm a AD Diagnosis vs. PET and lumbar puncture. 

IF anyone has experience with it, would be curious to hear. 

Michael Ellenbogen

I had the blood test as part of a clinical trail.

Dave Hannon

Would you say it's accurate and worth pursuing? My father never got a formal diagnosis because he would go through cognitive testing or a PET scan. This seems like a good alternative even if it's out of pocket cost.

Marta

Accuracy and reliability data have not yet been released, so no FDA approval.

The test does not diagnose AD.  It helps predict which patients are likely to have amyloid accumulation.  If it is negative, then it is more likely that something else is causing cognitive decline, rather than AD.  If positive, the reverse would be true:  more likely that it is AD causing cognitive decline.

Cost to consumer is $1,250.  Must be ordered by a health care provider.

Michael Ellenbogen

Sadly with this disease there is no single test one can take. You really need to go thru many steps to insure it is not something other than dementia. In my case I was just trying to narrow down the type of dementia and all it did was eliminate one type. So, from what you are asking it would be the wrong reason to do this test. As for as accuracy goes they are 92 percent or better so that is not a concern. If its a matter of money then get into a clinical trial and they can help offset a lot while you are doing good for others. You may even benefit from it as you never know.

Marta - are you saying the blood test cost that much?

Marta

Yes.

Michael Ellenbogen

That seems kind of high but I never checked into it.

Whyzit

A webinar on May 27th at 5:30 eastern time is being presented by Cure Alzheimer’s Fund regarding this blood test with Dr. David Holtzman. “Diagnosing Alzheimer’s Disease—A Groundbreaking New Blood Test”. You can register for free on their website.

Michael Ellenbogen

Groundbreaking Alzheimer's Disease Blood Test Subject of Upcoming Webinar

Cure Alzheimer's Fund to host conversation with co-creator David M. Holtzman, M.D.

 

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NEWS PROVIDED BY

Alzheimer's Disease Research Foundation 

May 20, 2021, 15:52 ET

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WELLESLEY HILLS, Mass., May 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Cure Alzheimer's Fund will host Dr. David Holtzman for a live webinar on Thursday, May 27 at 5:30 PM.  Diagnosing Alzheimer's Disease: A Groundbreaking New Blood Test is free and open to the public. Registration is required.

Dr. Holtzman is a co-inventor of a new blood test, PrecivityAD, designed to assist physicians with diagnosing Alzheimer's disease. The blood test is the first of its kind to measure beta-amyloid protein, the hallmark of Alzheimer's disease, to accurately indicate whether someone 60 years of age or older who has memory concerns has the classic pathology of Alzheimer's in their brain. Since a specific Alzheimer's diagnosis has previously required expensive and often inaccessible PET imaging scans, his discovery has significant implications for use in clinical practice and treatment trials.

Co-creator of first blood test to diagnose Alzheimer's to talk live about groundbreaking new test.

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"Cure Alzheimer's Fund is truly privileged to participate in this webinar with Dr. Holtzman.  He is recognized as a giant in Alzheimer's research and as a caring clinician for the patients he sees," said Meg Smith, Executive Vice President of Research Management for Cure Alzheimer's Fund. "As such, he can provide a broad perspective on why this blood test has been so urgently needed and how it will change the patient experience and advance efforts to bring effective treatments to them." Ms. Smith will moderate the conversation with Dr. Holtzman during the webinar.

Dr. Holtzman, M.D., is the Chair of the Department of Neurology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and a founding member of the Cure Alzheimer's Fund Research Leadership Group. His lab has published extensively on the neurobiology of APOE, neuronal activity, glucose, insulin, and the impact of sleep within Alzheimer's disease.

For more information and to register for the May 27th webinar, please visit Cure Alzheimer's Fund at CureAlz.org.

Cure Alzheimer's Fund is a non-profit organization that provides grants to the most promising research to prevent, slow or reverse Alzheimer's disease. Since its founding in 2004, Cure Alzheimer's Fund has contributed $125 million to research. Its funded initiatives have been responsible for several key breakthroughs  – including the groundbreaking "Alzheimer's in a Dish" study. With 100 percent of donations going directly to research, Cure Alzheimer's has been able to support some of the best scientific minds in the field of Alzheimer's research.

Dave Hannon

Thanks Marta. Do you have personal experience with it or just info you've found researching?

Dave Hannon

THis is great. Thanks for the info on the webinar. I just signed up and didn't know about this group (Cure Alzheimer's Fund) which is only a couple towns away from me. A good resource.

Dave Hannon

Just in case anyone else is curious, I did email an Alzheimer's doctor/researcher at a major hospital here in Boston and his thoughts were:

So, this test is not being used in clinical practice at all now (to my knowledge).  It continues to be part of research studies going on, but it’s use and accuracy are being studied. We do not know how to interpret the results of this test, and participants in studies do not learn the results either. There are no labs part of clinical care, to my knowledge, that are processing this test now. Hope this is helpful.

Teresag56

I am confused so if you have the blood test it still doesn't tell if you have Alzheimer's...so what is the point. I could see if it is someone with early onsetbut not for older people....I am reading a book this lady is telling about her being her husband's caregiver and she let him eat junk food...she let him have hamburgers and fries...and people kept telling her you need to feed him healthy food and she said why so he can live maybe a little longer with this awful disease..so let em the junk....lol

Marta

Brain tissue is needed, either antemortem or postmortem, to diagnose AD with certainty. 

Every other data point moves you either closer, or farther away, from certainty. 

Iris L.

Teresag56 wrote:

I am confused so if you have the blood test it still doesn't tell if you have Alzheimer's...so what is the point. 

The diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease is a "rule-out" diagnosis.  Meaning, all other possible causes of memory loss and cognitive impairment must be searched for and treated and ruled out before settling on Alzheimer's Disease.  No blood test or any other test tells if one has Alzheimer's Disease.

Actually, a neurologist would diagnose: "dementia consistent with Alzheimer's Disease."  Unless there is a brain biopsy, as Marta says.

Iris L.

Dave Hannon

The blood test doesn't diagnose Alzheimer's it detects presence of amyloid. Why does that matter?

This video talks a lot about a new drug that may get FDA clearance to target amyloid:

https://youtu.be/hZgF1NVkUtI

But to get that drug, you'd need a clear diagnosis of amyloid presence. You can only do that now by PET scan or lumbar puncture. Blood test, if available, would be much simpler way to determine presence of amyloid and, thus, possibly be a candidate for a new drug. 

QuincyLF

My father just got his PrecivityAD results back.  We have more questions than answers.  He has signs and symptoms of Alzheimer's - yet the test has us wondering if that is the case.  It identifies whether someone has amyloid plaques in the brain (on a scale of 0-100).  0-36 range is no or minimal plaques detected.  37-57 range (intermediate) does not distinguish between presence or absence of plaques (my father fell into this range - right at 50).  58-100 is high likelihood of plaques.

It also analyzes genes inherited by both parents.  My father had 1 gene (not sure from his mother or father) that indicates a higher risk for Alzheimer's.  But the other gene was 'common'.

All of this news is having us reconsider alternative treatments.  And also offers a small glimmer of hope.

I'll share updates as we progress.  

Tfreedz

Thanks for the update Quincy. Just curious did you payout of pocket for this test like Marta was saying? Also wondering what alternative treatments you were considering.

QuincyLF

I will keep this feed updated Tfreedz.  My father's neuro was part of the pilot program (10 patients took the test).  It cost just $25 + labs for the pilot.  I believe it usually costs $1,500.  We have a follow-up visit on Feb 17 where we will discuss alternative treatments in depth.  One example is light therapy.  I posted a separate post for the Gamma light.  We just received the lamp and will give it a go, as recommended, for 30 days.  If anything positive comes of it - I will surely post!  We'll discuss any supplements he should consider, activities, etc.  Also adhering to a strict Mediterranean diet.

We also discussed if my father would be a candidate for Aduhelm.  Neuro said we can discuss - but that it requires a more invasive spinal fluid test to determine how much amyloid plaques are present.  Since his Precivity blood test came back with an 'intermediate' at 50; doc said it's likely the spinal test will also come back showing the same result and level of plaque.

More updates to follow!

Tfreedz

Awesome he was accepted into the pilot. Can’t wait to hear about the lamp results, I hope it does something positive! Thanks again for the updates.

Iris L.

Quincy, I was part of a clinical trial checking for amyloid in the brain via the Amyvid PET scan.  I was told I have no amyloid, thus ruling out Alzheimer's Disease.  But I was not told about percentages.  I am APOe 4 positive.  I still get requests for online updates, but they are generic memory and cognitive questions and do not denote how I am really doing.  Or perhaps I'm not answering correctly.  They ask, "are you better, the same or worse than six months ago?"  It's hard for me to say.

Iris

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