Labcorp, a global leader of innovative and comprehensive laboratory services, announced the launch and national availability of its ATN Profile, a blood-based test that combines three, well-researched blood biomarkers to identify and assess biological changes associated with Alzheimer’s disease amyloid plaques, tau tangles and neurodegeneration (ATN) which can help accelerate the path to diagnosis and intervention.i The test is available through physicians for use with patients who are being evaluated for possible Alzheimer’s disease or other causes of cognitive impairment based on clinical observation and cognitive screenings.
“Many patients experience uncertainty around Alzheimer’s disease risk, which can take months or even years to diagnose,” said Dr. Brian Caveney, Labcorp’s chief medical and scientific officer. “More definitive testing, including our new ATN profile, can provide objective insights to patients, their loved ones, and treating physicians as they navigate care and treatment.”
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as many as 6.7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease, a number that is expected to nearly triple to 14 million people by 2060. It involves a slow build-up of protein plaques and tangles in the brain that eventually cause brain cells to stop working properly and die – a process known as neurodegeneration, which may start years before a person experiences symptoms such as memory loss.
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Until recently, it has been difficult to specifically identify the biological changes consistent with Alzheimer’s disease through widely available methods. The standard approach, which includes a physical exam, routine blood and urine tests, and cognitive testing may not provide distinct answers, which can result in delayed referral to a specialist. Labcorp’s new ATN Profile gives physicians an easily accessible and interpretable blood test to assess pathologies associated with Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative conditions in appropriate patients, supporting more informed decision-making and improved personalized patient care.
“Labcorp’s ATN Profile provides easier identification of biological changes consistent with Alzheimer’s disease and offers the promise of an accelerated path to diagnosis,” said Caveney. “This new blood biomarker test, which is widely available through physicians, will support the diagnostic and referral process for Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative causes of dementia and impaired cognitive function.”
With the release of its ATN Profile, Labcorp is reaffirming its dedication to supporting better care and outcomes for those impacted by Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative conditions. Labcorp is continuing to invest in studies to demonstrate the impact ATN testing can have in enhancing patient care and the continued development of new drugs to treat and manage the disease, as well as in making other key neurological markers widely accessible to physicians.
SOURCE : PRNewswire