Researchers from Quest Diagnostics presented original research on Alzheimer’s disease (AD), based on Quest’s AD-Detect® suite of blood-based biomarker (BBM) testing, at two leading conferences this July.

At the Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC), the world's largest forum for the dementia research community examined BBM results from individuals evaluated for AD in a primary care (PC) and specialty care (SC) setting. The Quest research on more than 8,200 Quest AD-Detect specimens found that most specimens (81.5%) were ordered by specialists while a smaller proportion (18.5%) were ordered by general practitioners, gerontologists or internists. While some statistically significant differences were observed, the overall blood-based biomarker profiles and patient demographics were largely similar between primary and specialty care settings.

“Overall, the findings support the use of BBMs in real-world patient populations in primary and specialty care settings,” wrote the researchers, led by Darren M. Weber, Director of R&D at Quest Diagnostics.

At the Association for Diagnostics & Laboratory Medicine’s (ADLM) Annual Scientific Meeting & Clinical Lab Expo, researchers from Quest presented research on how Insulin-like Growth Factor (IGF) may be associated with established AD biomarkers. More than 200 adults undergoing clinical testing for AD-related biomarkers were examined for the study, which found that an individual’s IGF ratio was positively associated with AD biomarkers Aβ42, Aβ40, and pTau217, independent of age. These findings may represent a promising, minimally-invasive biomarker to enhance current diagnostic panels, though further studies are warranted to determine if the ratio can improve blood-based AD screening.

Nearly 7 million Americans have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, the most prevalent form of dementia, a number projected to reach 14 million by 2060. Approximately 12-18% of adults over the age of sixty are living with mild cognitive impairment, a potential sign of AD. Ninety-four percent of physicians say blood tests would be more cost effective for the healthcare system compared to more invasive methods of detection (e.g., CSF lumbar puncture, PET imaging), according to a report from Quest.

Quest is committed to developing innovative advanced diagnostics to aid in evaluating Alzheimer's disease and other brain diseases. For more information, visit www.QuestForTheCure.com.