For the first time in Israel - a blood test that can alert you to dementia, Parkinson's, muscular dystrophy and neurological diseases, is given to patients at Sheba Hospital privately and in Hadassah as part of a research study. The test is not in the medicine basket and cannot provide a definitive diagnosis, but it can help on the one hand to rule out neurological conditions, And alternatively to signal the need for further investigation for neurological diseases
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The test performed at Sheba Hospital was developed by the American company Quantrix and is performed using a unique device that measures the level of neurofilaments in the blood (NfL).
May include a change in dementia warning, photo: AFP
Neurofilaments are the proteins that form the inner structure of nerves.
When there is a nerve injury of any kind - such as trauma, disease or inflammation that causes the nerve structure to break down - the neurofilaments can be found in the blood.
Until recently, there was no technology that allowed the identification of NfL, because their amounts in the blood are small and difficult to detect.
That's why their level was checked in the spinal fluid with a lumbar puncture test, which is an invasive and not simple test.
The price: NIS 800 for testing
The new blood test makes the invasive test unnecessary.
It does not provide an immediate diagnosis for most situations, but mainly an indication of a negative or the need for further investigation of neurological diversity.
A high level of NfL can indicate a wide range of neurological diseases.
The patient and the therapist understand that it is necessary to proceed clearly, and thus diseases such as dementia, ALS, Parkinson's, inflammatory diseases, and more can be detected early.
A study was conducted at Sheba Hospital, in which about 200 people performed the test, and it was possible to confirm that the test and its interpretation indeed detect nerve damage at a very early stage.
Those who wish to check whether they suffer from an active neurological problem can do so through the Sheba Autoimmunity Institute at a cost of NIS 800, and receive an answer after about two weeks.
"The test helps to confirm or rule out the existence of a neurological problem. For those who start to develop Alzheimer's, ALS or other serious diseases, the test will be positive within a few days, and its values will rise. The higher the value, the greater the damage," explains Dr. Amir Dori, neurology specialist and head of the Musculoskeletal Clinic in Sheba.
"If the test results are normal, it can rule out the neurological direction. The test can be given in the case of a patient who suffers, for example, from a prolonged headache and weakness. Many people fear damage to the nervous system. If the test is normal, I cannot completely rule out the disease, but it greatly reduces the fear that there is active damage to the nervous system."
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