Japanese researchers have confirmed a way to predict the onset of Alzheimer¡¯s disease with a high degree of probability, by checking blood for the presence of a certain type of abnormal protein that causes the illness.

A group of researchers at the University of Tokyo, including professor Takeshi Iwatsubo, in the medical journal Alzheimer¡¯s Research & Therapy on Thursday.

The latest study raises hopes that if doctors can identify who might be at risk of developing Alzheimer¡¯s beforehand, it could be treated early.

When patients develop Alzheimer¡¯s, a certain type of protein, called amyloid beta, is known to accumulate in the brain long before the onset of the disease.

A PET scan can also detect amyloid beta, but medical facilities that can conduct such scans are limited, and the test can be costly. The University of Tokyo¡¯s research offers an alternative detection method through the use of blood tests.

The researchers checked for the amyloid beta protein in 474 people who hadn¡¯t developed the disease, and compared the results of a PET scan and the blood test.

Using a combination of two types of protein ¡ª amyloid beta and tau phosphorylated at threonine 217 (p-tau217) ¡ª the researchers were able to detect the amount of amyloid beta present in the blood with an accuracy of 90% or more.

Although researchers in Sweden have already published similar findings, the latest study shows that the method works regardless of race or ethnicity, they said.

In 2022, about 4.4 million people were estimated to have dementia in Japan, with the figure expected to jump to 6.5 million in 2060, according to government data. More than 60% of people who developed dementia have Alzheimer¡¯s, health ministry data shows.

In September, the health ministry approved the use of lecanemab, the first drug seen to slow the progression of Alzheimer¡¯s disease, which was developed by Japanese drugmaker Eisai and U.S. firm Biogen.