New Alzheimer's test: A significant advancement in accessibility

Two-step blood and scan strategy delivers near-perfect accuracy for early Alzheimer's signs A simple blood test for p-tau217, when combined with confirmatory brain scans or CSF analysis, could transform early Alzheimer's detection and cut the burden of invasive procedures. In a recent study published in JAMA Neurology, an international team of researchers evaluated whether plasma phosphorylated tau 217 (p-tau217) could classify amyloid β (Aβ) status in cognitively unimpaired adults as a stand-alone test and in a two-step workflow with confirmatory positron emission tomography (PET) or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) testing. Background Alzheimer's disease accounts for 60% to 70% of the world’s 55 million dementia cases, placing a substantial burden on patients, families, healthcare systems, and memory clinics that rely on resource-intensive scans or lumbar punctures for diagnosis. Blood-based biomarkers offer access through a simple blood draw, eliminating the need for a hospital visit. Aβ plaques and tau tangles emerge years before symptoms, so detecting pathology in cognitively unimpaired adults could improve outcomes. Plasma p-tau217 appears promising; however, screening must strike a balance between accuracy, cost, and burden by age. Further research is needed to define blood-first workflows and thresholds for screening. https://lnkd.in/gCQYnikW https://lnkd.in/gntYMm3K

Updated international guidelines for diagnosing MS were published yesterday, enabling earlier and more accurate diagnosis so people can begin treatment sooner and improve their long-term health outcomes. Known as the McDonald Diagnostic Criteria, these guidelines are the global benchmark for diagnosing MS, with the latest updates published in The Lancet Neurology. Timely diagnosis gives people with MS the best chance to start treatment early, when it is most effective, helping to protect the brain and spinal cord and maintain quality of life. According to MS Australia’s World MS Day ‘My Diagnosis’ Report, MS diagnosis in Australia currently takes an average of nearly four years from the onset of symptoms. These updated guidelines are designed to shorten delays and provide people with answers much sooner. “This is a major step forward in improving care and quality of life for people with MS in Australia and across the world,” said MS Australia’s CEO Rohan Greenland. “For too many Australians, an MS diagnosis comes only after years of stress, multiple tests and uncertainty. These updated criteria will allow people to begin treatment sooner and take control of their MS journey.” Since the McDonald Diagnostic Criteria were first introduced in 2001 and last revised in 2017, each update has reflected advances in research and technology, helping reduce delays and improve outcomes. These updates are not just about clinical accuracy – they are about giving people clarity, reducing uncertainty, and helping them move forward with their lives. Key updates to the criteria include: 🕑 Allowing MS to be diagnosed earlier, sometimes after a single clinical episode. ✅ Recognising radiologically isolated syndrome (MS-like brain or spinal cord damage seen on MRI, even before symptoms) as MS when supported by other tests. 👁️ Introducing new tools for diagnosis – such as simple eye scans (optical coherence tomography) and newer spinal fluid tests (kappa free light chains) – which are less invasive and may allow for earlier diagnosis. 🚸 Expanding criteria for diagnosing MS in children and adults over 50, improving accuracy across all age groups. This initiative was led by the International Advisory Committee on Clinical Trials in Multiple Sclerosis, co-sponsored by the National MS Society (US) and the European Committee for Treatment and Research in MS (ECTRIMS). Read the full media release 👉 https://bit.ly/3IoKCMM #mediarelease #myMSdiagnosis

Researchers at Lund University in Sweden have developed a digital cognitive test for diagnosing Alzheimer's disease that is intended for use in primary care. “This digital test, which patients perform on their own with minimal involvement from healthcare personnel, improves the primary care physician's ability to determine who should be further examined by blood tests for Alzheimer's pathology early in the investigation phase,” says Professor Oskar Hansson, who led the study alongside Pontus Tideman. “Primary care does not have the resources, time or specialist knowledge to investigate possible Alzheimer's disease in the same way as specialised memory clinics. And this is where a digital cognitive test can make the biggest difference,” says Oskar Hansson, professor of neurology at Lund University. Research supported by Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation https://lnkd.in/d8gDkQKs #research #medicine #Alzheimers #Alzheimer Lund University Oskar Hansson

🌟NEW STUDY🌟 Decades Later, Still Treatable: HBOT for Adult Symptoms after Childhood traumatic brain injury. Our new study in Frontiers in Neurology (published 03 Sep 2025) shows that adults who sustained a traumatic brain injury (TBI) in childhood and have lived for years with cognitive decline due to persistent post-concussion syndrome (PCS) can still be accurately diagnosed and meaningfully treated. In a cohort of 26 adults (mean 23.6 years post-injury), our dedicated HBOT protocol produced large cognitive gains across global cognition, memory, executive function, attention, and processing speed, independent of time since injury or initial severity. These findings align with prior epidemiology showing that PPCS in children is common and underdiagnosed (≈25.3% after mild TBI), underscoring the meaning of missed diagnosis in youth who prevents them from fulfilling their “biological potential” along life and the opportunity to restore potential even decades later. Read here: https://lnkd.in/daufrctR

Another research study has just been published September 2025—further reinforcing the urgent need to make hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) a true standard of care for those with traumatic brain injury (TBI) or post-concussive syndrome (PCS). We now have nearly two decades of data from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with IRB oversight. The question remains: when will HBOT (neurological protocol) finally be prescribed first—and integrated into mainstream treatment—before more Veterans, first responders, and trauma patients are left to suffer or take their own lives? I am not speaking from theory—I, along with thousands of other Veterans and civilians, have personally completed HBOT using peer-reviewed protocols. It works. It saves lives. And it changes lives. It’s time to stop delaying and start healing. For quick reference, here is the HBOT protocol used in the study: Patients underwent at least 40 consecutive HBOT sessions, delivered five times per week. Each session lasted 90 min and involved breathing 100% oxygen at 2 atmospheres absolute (ATA), with 5-min air breaks every 20 min. Thank you Shai Efrati, MD, and research team, for your continued research in HBOT for neurological diagnoses. #HBOT #HBOTResearch #VeteranHealth #ScienceOverBS #TBI #Neurology #BrainHealth #PostConcussiveSyndrome Help Our Heroes

Researchers at Lund University in Sweden have developed a digital cognitive test for diagnosing Alzheimer's disease that is intended for use in primary care. “This digital test, which patients perform on their own with minimal involvement from healthcare personnel, improves the primary care physician's ability to determine who should be further examined by blood tests for Alzheimer's pathology early in the investigation phase,” says Professor Oskar Hansson, who led the study alongside Pontus Tideman. “Primary care does not have the resources, time or specialist knowledge to investigate possible Alzheimer's disease in the same way as specialised memory clinics. And this is where a digital cognitive test can make the biggest difference,” says Oskar Hansson, professor of neurology at Lund University. Research supported by Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation https://lnkd.in/diQQeBeS #research #medicine #Alzheimers #Alzheimer Lund University Oskar Hansson

Delighted to share our recent publication: “Navigating the Interplay: Understanding the Potential Impact of the Gut–Lung–Brain Axis on Brain Disorders.” This article underscores that the gut and lungs may influence brain health more than previously thought, and that a multi-organ perspective could unlock new opportunities for prevention and therapy. Key takeaways: ■ The gut, lung, and brain are not isolated—they’re part of a hidden communication network shaping brain health. ■ Interconnected Triad: Gut, lung, and brain form a communication network via immune, metabolic, microbial, and neuroendocrine pathways. ■ Axes in Action: Gut–lung, lung–brain, and gut–brain axes, linked by microbial metabolites, illustrate how the Interorgan Communication Network (ICN) functions. ■ Impact on Brain Health: Dysbiosis, lung issues, or neuroinflammation can worsen Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, stroke, and psychiatric disorders. ■ Shared Pathways: Inflammation, SCFAs, cytokines, exosomes, and BBB disruption connect peripheral changes to brain pathology within the ICN. ■ COVID-19 Proof: SARS-CoV-2 shows the triad—gut dysbiosis and lung inflammation drive immune overactivation and neurological effects. ■ Therapeutic Potential: Microbiome restoration + lifestyle changes offer key intervention points in the ICN. ■ Precision & Prevention: ICN mapping may uncover shared disease pathways and novel drug targets. ■ Future Direction: Advancing ICN-based therapies demands collaboration across neurology, gastroenterology, pulmonology, and immunology. #science #society #health

It is becoming clear that brain health is shaped by the whole body. This article underscores how gut and lung connections may open new frontiers for preventing and treating brain diseases.

Excited to share our new publication in BMC Medicine! “Targeted limbic self-neuromodulation for alleviating central sensitization symptoms in fibromyalgia” Read the paper here - https://lnkd.in/dKCf3hVM Fibromyalgia is a complex brain-based syndrome involving pain, fatigue, cognitive, and affective symptoms. Current treatments remain limited and often focus narrowly on pain. In this double-blind, randomized, dual-controlled trial, we tested a novel fMRI-informed EEG neurofeedback approach targeting the amygdala. The results showed: - Significant, sustained improvements across multiple symptom domains (pain, fatigue, cognition, affect) - Benefits that persisted up to one year after training - Evidence that targeting limbic circuits and emotion regulation processes can relieve the broader disease burden, not just pain This work highlights the potential of mechanism-based, brain-guided therapies to address central sensitization syndromes such as fibromyalgia—moving beyond symptom relief toward long-term functional improvement. Excellent (and hard) work by our PhD student (now postdoctoral fellow) Ayelet Or-Borichev and co-mentor Yulia Lerner #ChronicPain #Fibromyalgia #Neuroscience #Neurofeedback #Neuromodulation #CentralSensitization

We are very excited to announce the continuation of the first modifying, treatment for Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB) at the University of Miami, and continue last year's successful Phase 2 "SHIMMER" clinical trial. COG1202 EAP (Expanded Access Program) is a single group, open-label program for individuals between 50-85 years of age, diagnosed with mild to moderate DLB. My team and I at the University of Miami's, Comprehensive Center for Brain Health are testing CT1812 (Zervimesine) a modulating, small molecule that acts as a sigma-2 receptor antagonist, aiming to protect neurons from damage caused by protein buildup, specifically alpha-synuclein. Demonstrating significant improvements in behavioral, cognitive, and motor symptoms in patients with DLB, Zervimesine represents a potential new hope for millions of patients and their families affected by DLB as there is currently no FDA approved treatment for DLB. Cognition Therapeutics and the University of Miami aims to advance Zervimesine into late-stage clinical trials for both DLB and Alzheimer's disease as the molecule progresses in its testing phase. #lewybodydementia #dementiawithlewybodies #alzheimers #universityofmiami #universityofflorida #neurology #neurodegeneration #clinicaltrials #neurodegenerativedisease #phase2 #dementia