United Kingdom, May 29 -- A new study has suggested that a blood test could soon detect Alzheimer's decades before symptoms appear.

Researchers believe that the disease may be present in midlife and that blood tests that measure the hallmark proteins associated with Alzheimer's could prove to be "incredibly valuable".

In the study published in The Lancet, the research team explained: "These findings support the concept that Alzheimer's disease begins decades before clinical symptoms emerge and highlight the potential value of plasma biomarkers for early detection in the general population.

"Identifying individuals with early Alzheimer's disease neuropathology through accessible, blood-based assays could help target preventive strategie...