8 November 2022
First Choice Neurology partners with Cytox
November 7, 2022 – First Choice Neurology (FCN), the largest neurology group in the U.S. with more than 41 facilities in six Florida counties and services at 35 major hospitals, has partnered with U.K-based Cytox to become the first practice in the United States to offer patients, ages 18-80, a simple saliva test to determine future risk of Alzheimer’s.
According to FCN Miami-based neurologist Dr. Jeff Gelblum, this risk test called genoSCORETM could transform physicians’ ability to predict and manage this dreaded disease. “This new genetic test is CLIA-accredited and uses a polygenic risk score (PRS), which accesses the accumulation of thousands of small genetic variations to determine Alzheimer’s risk,” he explained. “Tests like 23andme are like the Chevy’s of genetic testing, as they use only one gene marker for Alzheimer’s and are not reliable predictors. This new test is like a Mercedes, giving us actionable knowledge to be able to help patients manage their health.”
“Alzheimer’s disease affects more than 46 million people in the world,” he continued. “We see this new test as a powerful tool to guide patients toward effective lifestyle and therapeutic interventions that can have a significant impact on delaying the onset of disease symptoms and cognitive decline.”
FCN physicians will be using the results from the genoSCORE non-invasive, genetic test to assess the risk of cognitive decline due to Alzheimer’s disease (AD). A simple saliva sample will help assess patients for the risk of developing Alzheimer’s, before symptoms arise, and prior to invasive cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) testing or expensive scanning techniques. The test kits, which cost $599 and are not currently covered by insurance, can be easily administered at home. All tests are processed by a U.S.-based laboratory.
For patients fearing negative results, Dr. Gelblum has reassuring advice. “A number of clinic trials are currently in progress that give pre-symptomatic patients the ability to access promising new drug therapies,” he said. “There are a number of drugs in the pipeline that are designed to support at risk individuals.”
He adds that lifestyle changes, such as diet and exercise, also have significant positive results for those testing for high risk of Alzheimer’s.
Dr. Richard Pither, CEO of Cytox, who announced that FCN is the first U.S. distributor of the test, said that his company is delighted to support patients in Florida and beyond through this partnership.
“At Cytox our mission is to transform how people are managed within the Alzheimer’s disease care pathway. Our genoSCORE technology, which powers the Sampled Alzheimer’s Risk Test, enables physicians to make immediate decisions about their patients’ risk of cognitive decline due to Alzheimer’s disease.”