Alzheimer’s disease can be detected three-and-a-half years before it is diagnosed, according to a study.
Research from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience at King’s College London has established a blood-based test that can predict the risk of the disease. The study supports the idea that substances in the blood can influence the formation of brain cells.
Dr. Edina Silajzic, first author of the study, said: ‘Our findings are extremely important, allowing us to predict early Alzheimer’s disease.’
In the early stages of the disease, when Alzheimer’s affects the formation of new brain cells in the hippocampus, previous studies have only been able to study neurogenesis in the later stages through post-mortem examinations.
Research by the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience at King’s College London has established a blood-based test that can predict Alzheimer’s risk.
Over several years, researchers collected blood samples from 56 people with mild cognitive impairment to understand the early changes.
While not all people with MCI will develop Alzheimer’s disease, those with the condition go on to be diagnosed more quickly than the general population.
Of the 56 people in the study, 36 went on to develop Alzheimer’s disease.
When the researchers used only blood samples collected not far from the time a person was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, changes in neurogenesis were observed 3.5 years before a clinical diagnosis.
Study leader Professor Sandrine Turret from King’s IOPPN said: “Previous research has shown that blood from young mice can have a rejuvenating effect on cognition in older mice by improving hippocampal neurogenesis.
This gave us the idea to model neurogenesis in a dish using human brain cells and human blood.
‘In our study, we used this model to understand the neurogenesis process and use the changes in this process to predict Alzheimer’s disease, and we obtained the first evidence in humans that the blood circulation system in the body affects the ability of the brain to form. New cells.’
What is dementia?
Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe a variety of neurological disorders.
International concern
Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe progressive neurological disorders (that affect the brain) that cause changes in memory, thinking, and behavior.
There are many types of dementia, of which Alzheimer’s disease is the most common.
Some people may have a combination of different types of dementia.
Regardless of the type, each person experiences dementia in their own unique way.
Dementia is a global concern, but it is often seen in developed countries, where people can live to a very old age.
How many people were affected?
According to the Alzheimer’s Society, there are more than 900,000 people living with dementia in the UK today. This will rise to 1.6 million by 2040.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, affecting 50 to 75 percent of those diagnosed.
There are an estimated 5.5 million Alzheimer’s patients in the US. A similar percentage increase is expected in the coming years.
As a person ages, the risk of dementia increases.
Diagnosis rates are improving but many people with dementia are still thought to be undiagnosed.
Is there a cure?
There is currently no cure for dementia.
But new drugs can slow the progression and, if detected earlier, can be more effective treatments.
Source: Alzheimer’s Association