A new test could help to more accurately predict and measure the rate of cognitive decline among those with mild dementia, leading to more effective clinical trials, according to a new report.

Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis found that measuring the levels of certain biomarkers found in cerebrospinal fluid provides a good indication of a patient’s rate of cognitive decline over the course of the next few years. Samples were taken from 49 people diagnosed with mild Alzheimer’s disease, according to the report. After a 3.5 year follow-up, researchers found that patients with certain levels of biomarkers were more likely to experience rapid cognitive decline.

Clinical trial researchers need ways to identify patients with mild Alzheimer’s disease who will exhibit measurable cognitive decline during those trials, according to study authors. By factoring in a patient’s biomarker levels, trial researchers could winnow out less desirable candidates, improving the efficiency and accuracy of their tests, the authors suggest. The report appears in the May issue of the journal Archives of Neurology.