A group of researchers at the Seoul National University (SNU) in South Korea have developed a new technique for a series of blood tests designed to predict Alzheimer’s disease before the symptoms start to appear.

It is believed that the disease occurs due to the build-up of a beta-amyloid protein that is considered toxic to the neurons. The existing techniques for the detection of amyloid plaques include positron emission tomography (PET) scans that are reported to be expensive and distressing to a patient.

The new technology has been designed to predict the amyloid PET test result with 90 per cent accuracy, and requires only a small blood sample. The technology is expected to enable cost reduction, while its ability to allow early screening and prediction could potentially prevent the disease.

The technology uses a combination of protease inhibitors and phosphatase inhibitors (MPP) to stabilise beta-amyloid levels in the blood for obtaining accurate results. The university has licensed the technology to biotech firm Medifron DBT in the country and intends to co-develop diagnostics kit and computing algorithm required to commercialise the technology.