United States, May 16 -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration cleared for marketing the first in vitro diagnostic device that tests blood to aid in diagnosing Alzheimer's disease. The Lumipulse G pTau217/b-Amyloid 1-42 Plasma Ratio is for the early detection of amyloid plaques associated with Alzheimer's disease in adult patients, aged 55 years and older, exhibiting signs and symptoms of the disease. Alzheimer's disease, a brain disorder known to slowly destroy memory and thinking skills, and, eventually, the ability to carry out the simplest tasks, is progressive, meaning that the disease gets worse over time. In most people with Alzheimer's disease, clinical symptoms first appear later in life. Amyloid plaques in a patient's brain are a ...