A NEW BLOOD TEST OFFERS THE PROMISE OF SUPPLEMENTING an Alzheimer’s disease clinical diagnosis.
Scientists at Brain Chemistry Labs (Wyoming; USA) offer that their new approach represents new thinking separate from amyloid-beta and p-tau molecules currently being pursued to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease.
Today we look briefly at Alzheimer’s dementia, examine the breakthrough, and review how you and I might reduce our risk of suffering from memory loss.
Alzheimer’s disease
The Mayo Clinic (USA) explains that Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurologic condition. With AD, the brain shrinks, and brain cells die.
Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia, characterized by a continuous decline in thinking, behavior, and social skills. The result? An individual can no longer function independently.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the statistics are daunting, with nearly six million folks in the United States having the diagnosis, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
While younger individuals may get Alzheimer’s disease, it is less common. Age matters: The number of people with Alzheimer’s disease doubles every five years beyond age 65.
Worldwide, an estimated 50 million individuals have dementia, with upwards of 70 percent having Alzheimer’s disease.
Early symptoms can include forgetting recent conversations or events. With Alzheimer’s disease progression, there is more severe memory impairment. Ultimately, the person with AD loses the ability to perform activities of daily living.
Alzheimer’s disease: New research
Publishing in April 2022, researchers at Brain Chemistry Labs in Jackson, Wyoming, discovered a unique ratio of blood metabolites that may supplement a clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer’s dementia.
Blood concentrations of two substances (2-aminoethyl dihydrogen phosphate and taurine) distinguished adults with early Alzheimer’s disease from adults who had normal cognition.
How does the biomarker work? The study authors explain that 2-aminoethyl dihydrogen phosphate plays an essential role in the structure and function of cellular membranes.
Interestingly, concentrations of the substance are 40 percent lower in particular brain parts, including the temporal cortex, frontal cortex, and hippocampus, in patients with Alzheimer’s disease (compared with those without the condition).
The researchers look forward to repeating the experiments with larger sample sizes. They will also see if the biomarker is related to other neurodegenerative conditions.
This approach is entirely different than the general approach of focusing on amyloid-beta and p-tau molecules. If confirmed, the new biomarker may help clinically evaluate Alzheimer’s disease.
Could this new biomarker advance our understanding of Alzheimer’s disease? We need a cheap, non-invasive test for Alzheimer’s disease. Might the new findings also point us to new targets for medicines?
For now, the research is only preliminary. This study is small, and 41 of 50 samples were women. In addition, the control group had an average age of only 39, while those with dementia had an average age of 71 years.
Alzheimer’s disease: Reduce your risk?
Here are some potential risk-reducing maneuvers:
- Blood pressure control
- Cognitive training
- Treat hearing problems
- Sleep well
- Avoid head injury
- Don’t consume excessive alcohol or smoke.
- Avoid head trauma.
- Stay socially engaged.
For more tips, please go here:
