New Alzheimer’s Test Can Predict Age of Disease’s Onset

A new genetic test can predict at what age a person with risk factors is likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease. The Polygenic Hazard Score test, developed by an international team led by University of California researchers, issues patients a score based on 31 genetic markers. A study published Tuesday in PLoS Medicine, found that a high score on the PHS scale can mean a diagnosis years before those who have a low-risk genetic profile. The latest study indicates that thousands of background genetic variations have small influences on Alzheimer’s risk when considered separately, but those same variants have a substantial cumulative influence. The test was created by using the genetic data of more than 70,000 people, including healthy elderly individuals and actual patients who were already diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Rahul Desikan, of the University of California, says the test can now be used to calculate any person’s risk of developing the disease that year. “That is, if you don’t already have dementia, what is your yearly risk for AD onset, based on your age and genetic information?” he added.