New FDA-approved Alzheimer's blood test coming to Mayo Clinic
The Brief
The FDA has approved the marketing of a new blood test by Fujirebio.
The biomarker test measures the ratio of tau and amyloid proteins in the blood of a person with symptoms of cognitive decline to confirm the presence of Alzheimer's disease.
Mayo Clinic will be one of 37 Alzheimer's clinics across the country to receive the new blood testing equipment starting at the end of June.
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the marketing of a new tool to that can test a person's blood to diagnose Alzheimer's disease. The blood test is a groundbreaking development to confirm the disease in patients who are already experiencing cognitive decline.
What we know
The diagnostic tool, called Lumipulse, is manufactured by the world-wide medical research and development firm Fujirebio. The procedure, called the G pTau 217/β-Amyloid 1-42 Plasma Ratio in-vitro diagnostic (IVD) test, measures the presence of the amyloid and tau proteins in the brain that build the plaques leading to Alzheimer's disease.
Fujirebio will now start distributing the diagnostic tests by the end of June to 37 Alzheimer's clinics across the United States including Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.
"I was very excited to get the news that there was an FDA approved test," said Alicia Algeciras-Schimnich, Ph.D. of Mayo Clinic who's been offering a version of the blood test for the past year in their laboratory. "It's just increasing the access to patients, and now many more laboratories will be able to offer this test."
Dr. Algeciras-Schimnich says Mayo hopes will have the capacity to offer 1,000 to 5,000 blood tests a month with this new diagnostic protocol.
What patients say
Tim Sandry admits he's never had the best memory, but when he approached turning 67, he and his wife Ellen started noticing changes.
"I wanted to find out what's going on here," recalled Sandry when he and his wife decided to see a neurologist.
The doctor put him through a series of cognitive tests and determined he had what's called mild cognitive impairment which is a noticeable slowing of memory function. It wasn't long after his cognitive tests that a new diagnostic spinal tap was available to detect the presence of Alzheimer's disease. But it was invasive and painful.
"In the morning they took the spinal fluid, and then I had to stay very still for the rest of the day. And then they sent me home, and I had an awful headache for the next three days," said Sandry of the hospital procedure.
This new test would have saved him the pain and provided reliable results.
"Oh, so much difference," said Sandry about the chance to have had a diagnostic blood test. "I mean, this blood test is going to shake things up dramatically I believe."
Why you should care
The faster a person experiencing cognitive decline can get a positive diagnosis for Alzheimer's the faster they can start taking one of two recently FDA approved drugs to slow the progression of the disease. Those drugs are Leqembi and Kisunla.
"It makes it much quicker for those people to start treatment and to start looking at what options there are, whether it's clinical trials or medication," said Jenna Fink of the Alzheimer's Association Minnesota-North Dakota chapter.
Sandry has been on a regimen of Leqembi since his own diagnosis and he believes it has dramatically slowed the disease in his own brain. "The sooner you get diagnosed, the quicker you can get on those drugs and the less damage this will do to your brain And the longer you will be able to function, cognitively," he said.
Dig deeper
The new blood test not only speeds up the diagnosis process, it also offers more accuracy.
"The clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer disease is only about 70-75% accurate," said Mayo's Alicia Algeciras-Schimnich of the standard practice of cognitive testing and PET scans of the brain. Adding the blood biomarker test increases the accuracy of an Alzheimer's diagnosis to 90-95%.
"So really, it is a significant improvement in the diagnosis for patients, which now can have an earlier answer for their symptoms," said Algeciras-Schmnich.'
By the numbers
As many as 101,900 Minnesotan over the age of 65 are living with Alzheimer's according to the 2025 facts and figures report from the Alzheimer's Association. That adds up to 10.7% of Minnesota adults over 65.
Alzheimer's affects more than just the patients. For every patient, there are caregivers, many of them family members. When those numbers are added up, the Alzheimer's Association estimates there are 166,000 caregivers in Minnesota.
Across the nation, 7.2 million Americans are living with the Alzheimer's, and 74% are over the age of 75.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
UCSD students protest Trump cuts to science research funding
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — For the second time this year, students and faculty at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) staged a protest outside Geisel Library, demanding the federal government reverse deep education funding cuts imposed by the Trump administration — cuts they say are threatening research, jobs and the future of scientific innovation. Dozens of protesters gathered on campus, holding signs and sharing personal stories about how the loss of federal research grants is impacting their work and well-being. Dozens possibly detained by federal officials amid immigration raids in Los Angeles 'This year has been filled with many moments of insecurity,' said Eleanor Ketterer-Sykes, a first-year Ph.D. student in the neuroscience program. 'UCSD is one of the best science schools in the country because of its renowned research labs, you have access to labs at the Salk Institute, Sanford and Scripps as well as the VA Hospital — but that future is in jeopardy.' The Trump administration has canceled hundreds of research grants in recent months, citing concerns over 'ideologically driven science.' The cuts have targeted studies ranging from HIV prevention to violence prevention in children. UCSD Chancellor Pradeep Khosla warned in an April letter that the university stands to lose between $75 million and $500 million annually as a result. 'As of May 30, there have been more than 150 federal grants terminated, resulting in a loss of $30 million,' said Lisa Eyler, a UCSD psychiatry professor. 'These cuts are already leading to layoffs among instructors, staff scientists, and support personnel like librarians.' 'No Kings Day' protests planned across California on June 14 The ripple effects could be felt beyond UCSD. Stanley Maloy, emeritus professor of microbiology at San Diego State University, said the cuts threaten the pipeline of future scientists and engineers. 'Reduced positions mean talented students are left behind,' Maloy said. 'As this innovation workforce dries up, our economy is going to suffer.' Eyler echoed those concerns, warning of a generational loss in scientific progress. 'There will be a gaping hole in the pipeline of future scientists, engineers and healthcare providers, which could result in the potential loss of an entire generation of great scientific thinkers,' she said. Thousands in San Diego protest cuts to federal education funds For Ketterer-Sykes, the issue is personal. She entered the neuroscience program hoping to make life-saving breakthroughs. 'So many people rely on scientific innovation — whether it be to find cures for diseases like tuberculosis or Alzheimer's disease,' she said. 'It really is vital to humanity.' While the exact financial toll remains uncertain, university leaders say the impact is already being felt — and may only get worse. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
ProZenith Launches Natural Supplement Formulated for Weight Management Support
U.S.-Made Product Supports General Wellness Goals with a 60-Day Refund Policy Aurora, June 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ProZenith recently announced the launch of its new wellness supplement developed to assist individuals in maintaining energy, focus, and mindful appetite awareness as part of a balanced and active lifestyle. Manufactured in the United States in a facility that is FDA-registered and GMP-certified, the product is now available through official online channels. ProZenith is intended for individuals pursuing support for general weight management and overall well-being. Its formulation includes select ingredients chosen to align with healthy routines and support individuals seeking help managing non-hunger-related snacking behaviors. Each purchase of ProZenith is covered by a 60-day refund policy, reflecting the company's customer-first return assurance framework. All ProZenith supplements are manufactured without genetically modified ingredients and adhere to U.S. quality standards. Production takes place in an FDA-registered facility that complies with current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP). ProZenith is currently available through the company's official online platform at with multiple purchase options provided for convenience. About ProZenith ProZenith develops nutritional supplements designed to support individuals on their wellness journeys. The company emphasizes high-quality manufacturing, transparency, and customer satisfaction as it continues to expand its product offerings for health-conscious consumers. For customer support inquiries, contact:support@ Disclaimer:This product has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Media Contact: Company: ProZenith Address: 19655 E 35th Dr #100, Aurora, CO 80011 Email: support@ Order Phone Support: (925) 217-7353 CONTACT: Company: ProZenith Address: 19655 E 35th Dr #100, Aurora, CO 80011 Email: support@ Order Phone Support: (925) 217-7353Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Newsweek
3 hours ago
- Newsweek
Egg Recall Map Shows Warnings Issued to Customers in 9 States
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. August Egg Company has issued a recall on Friday for 1,700,000 brown cage-free and certified organic brown eggs due to potential fears of salmonella. Newsweek reached out to the company after hours via phone Friday night for comment. Why It Matters Numerous recalls have been initiated this year due to the potential for the following: damaged products, foodborne illness, contamination and undeclared food allergens. Millions of Americans experience food sensitivities or food allergies every year. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the nine "major" food allergens in the U.S. are eggs, milk, fish, wheat, soybeans, Crustacean shellfish, sesame, tree nuts and peanuts. The FDA warns that salmonella is an organism that could cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in frail or older people, young children and those with weakened immune systems. What To Know The FDA says in its alert that some of the eggs were distributed to grocery stores including Save Mart, FoodMaxx, Lucky, Smart & Final, Safeway, Raleys, Food 4 Less and Ralphs. Those eggs were distributed from February 3, 2025, to May 15, 2025, with sell by dates of March 4, 2025, and June 4, 2025, in both California and Nevada. The FDA says additional eggs were distributed from February 3, 2025, to May 6, 2025, with sell by dates of March 4, 2025, and June 19, 2025, in Walmart stores in Illinois, Indiana, Nebraska, New Mexico, California, Washington, Nevada, Arizona and Wyoming. The plant code numbers for the recalled eggs can be found printed on the package and are P-6562 or CA5330 with Julian Dates from 32 to 126, the FDA says. The Julian Dates are codes of three to seven digits and represent the date that the food was packaged or manufactured. "This recall is associated with an ongoing outbreak investigation of Salmonella Enteritidis illnesses" the alert says, adding the investigation is related to products distributed in the nine states. The FDA alert also has a chart of the Julian Dates with corresponding item names. What People Are Saying The FDA alert, in part: "August Egg Company is not selling fresh shell eggs at this time. Our firm has voluntarily been diverting eggs to an egg-breaking plant for over 30 days, which pasteurizes the eggs and kills any potential foodborne pathogens." August Egg Company in the FDA alert: "August Egg Company of Hilmar, CA is voluntarily recalling 1,700,000 dozen shell eggs processed at our California plant and sold to various grocery customers. This recall has been initiated due to possible Salmonella enteritidis contamination, which poses a health risk. With that in mind, we believe it is appropriate out of an abundance of caution to conduct this voluntary recall, as consumers may still have these eggs in their homes. "It is important to know that when our processing plant identified this concern, we immediately began diverting all eggs from the plant to an egg-breaking facility, which pasteurizes the eggs and kills any pathogens. "August Egg Company's internal food safety team also is conducting its own stringent review to identify what measures can be established to prevent this situation from recurring. We are committed to addressing this matter fully and to implementing all necessary corrective actions to ensure this does not happen again." What Happens Next Customers with additional questions can call August Egg Company at 1-800-710-2554 from 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT and can also return the eggs to the original place of purchase for a refund.
