A study finds that a blood-based test can detect Alzheimer’s disease early

A study found that the test can detect Alzheimer’s disease three and a half years before it is diagnosed.

Research from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience at King’s College London has created a blood-based test that can predict risk for this condition. The study supports the idea that components of blood can influence the formation of brain cells.

“Our results are very important, and they have the potential to allow us to predict the onset of Alzheimer’s disease early,” said Dr. Edina Silajic, joint first author of the study.

While Alzheimer’s disease affects the formation of new brain cells in the hippocampus during the early stages of the disease, previous research has only been able to study the formation of neurons in its later stages through postmortem examinations.

Research from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience at King’s College London has created a blood-based test that can predict the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

In order to understand the early changes, the researchers over several years collected blood samples from 56 people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a condition in which someone begins to deteriorate their memory or cognitive ability.

While not everyone with MCI will develop Alzheimer’s disease, those with the condition progress to diagnosis at a much higher rate than the broader population.

36 of the 56 people in the study were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.

When the researchers only used blood samples collected far from when someone was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, they found that changes in neurogenesis occurred 3.5 years before a clinical diagnosis.

Professor Sandrine Thorette, lead author of the study from King’s IoPPN, said: ‘Previous studies have shown that blood from young mice can have a rejuvenating effect on the cognition of older mice by improving neurogenesis in the hippocampus.

This gave us the idea of ​​modeling the process of neurogenesis in a dish using human brain cells and human blood.

In our study, we aimed to use this model to understand the process of neurogenesis and to use changes in this process to predict Alzheimer’s disease and we found the first evidence in humans that the body’s circulatory system can have an effect on the brain’s ability to form. new cells.

What is dementia?

Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe a group of neurological disorders

global concern

Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe a group of progressive neurological disorders (those affecting the brain) that affect memory, thinking and behaviour.

There are many types of dementia, the most common being Alzheimer’s disease.

Some people may have a combination of different types of dementia.

No matter what type is diagnosed, each person will experience dementia in their own unique way.

Dementia is a global concern but appears most often in wealthier countries, where people are more likely to live to an old age.

How many people are affected?

The Alzheimer’s Society reports that there are more than 900,000 people living with dementia in the UK today. This is expected to increase to 1.6 million by 2040.

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia, affecting between 50 and 75 percent of sufferers.

In the United States, it is estimated that there are 5.5 million people with Alzheimer’s disease. A similar percentage is expected to rise in the coming years.

As a person ages, the risk of dementia increases.

Diagnosis rates are improving but it is believed that many people with dementia remain undiagnosed.

Is there a cure?

Currently there is no cure for dementia.

But new medications can slow its progression, and the earlier it is caught, the more effective treatments can be.

Source: Alzheimer’s Association