Around one in 10 people in the UK aged 70 and over may have brain changes linked to Alzheimer’s disease, according to a large population-based study published in Nature. The findings are not a diagnosis but suggest more than 1 million people could meet current NHS criteria for anti-amyloid treatments, far higher than previous estimates.
Researchers analysed blood samples from nearly 11,500 people using a p-tau217 test, which can detect Alzheimer’s-related changes earlier than traditional methods. The prevalence rose sharply with age, from under 8% in people in their 50s and 60s to around two-thirds of those over 90.
Experts say the results could transform early detection but warn the NHS would struggle to afford treatment at current costs.
