Alzheimer disease has reached unprecedented levels in line with population aging. The study by Martino-Adami et al. 2024 has raised the hope that more people can receive an early diagnosis of Alzheimer and potentially start treatments. The study used plasma biomarkers rather than much more expensive and rare MRI scans for diagnosis. The rather exceptional results allow even to test for severity of Alzheimer according to established evaluation measures. Additionally, the probability of an Alzheimer trajectory on a time scale is feasible. The authors suggest that the data and statistical methods applied allow to identify Alzheimer before the outbreak of impairments. The data sample stems from “patients of advanced age visiting primary care”. This remains a limitation for generalizations, but the hope that other studies test the same approach with samples from younger populations will spur additional investments into such research. The list of institutions and foundations that contributed to make this study possible is really long. Thanks go to all involved, researchers, donors as well as the reviewers and editors of the journal. (Image Paris Metro Help Column 2024)
