ROCHESTER, Minn. (WCCO) -- Researchers at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester are determining whether a blood test could offer early detection for Alzheimer's Disease.

The Mayo analyzed samples of plasma and brain fluids from 45 patients -- one third with no cognitive problems, another third with mild impairment and the final third with Alzheimer's.

"And we found that plasma very accurately, actually, detected changes [in cerebrospinal, or brain fluids]," said Dr Eugenia Trushina.

The Mayo Clinic pharmacologist says blood tests could offer promise as a way to detect Alzheimer's disease at its earliest onset.

This is especially significant since a previous Mayo study found a window of up to 15 years between onset and actual symptoms such as memory loss.