Predicting Alzheimer’s 10 years in advance is already a scientific reality. The challenge now is preventing the healthcare system from collapsing

A UC study in The Lancet found blood biomarkers Aβ42/40 and p-tau217 were linked to a higher risk of cognitive decline about a decade later in 1,350 adults without dementia.

A separate Lancet study of nearly 800 people in the US and Canada found the PET tracer MK6240 was better at detecting tau buildup, a key sign of Alzheimer’s.

Together, the findings point to earlier Alzheimer’s diagnosis through blood tests and neuroimaging, but they are not ready for mass screening.

Researchers warn that low prevalence in healthy populations could lead to many false positives and added pressure on the healthcare system.