In research into the origin of Alzheimer’s disease, researchers have been able to visualize the proteins that cause this degenerative brain disease by means of PET brain scans. Researcher Rik Ossen Koppele and colleagues collected the scan data from 1,325 individuals who participated in international studies conducted in the Netherlands, Sweden, Australia and the United States.
Research PET brain scan
The subjects who participated in the studies were subjected to a neuropsychological examination every year for three years after the initial PET brain scan. Among other things, memory was measured and a neurologist examined whether the participants developed symptoms consistent with the diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment or dementia.
Analysis of these studies showed that cognitively healthy people with abnormal amyloid and tau PET scans were nineteen times more likely to have mild cognitive complaints within 3.5 years. The chance of developing dementia was even 42 times higher than in people with a non-abnormal PET brain scan. The participants were also subjected to neuropsychological tests during the studies, for example for memory. In that area too, people with abnormal PET scans appeared to deteriorate much faster.
The results of this study are of great importance, the researchers say. “It shows that cognitively healthy people with abnormal amyloid and tau PET scans could benefit greatly from future drugs that clear up amyloid and tau deposits. The research also shows that with these PET scans you can make a good risk assessment about future clinical decline.”
Diagnosis Alzheimer’s based on proteins
However, scientists have not yet reached a consensus when it comes to the role of amyloid and tau proteins. That is, there are scientists who define Alzheimer’s disease on the basis of these proteins, regardless of whether the patient has (memory) complaints. Other scientists state that the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s should only be made when objective cognitive impairments have been identified. They attach less importance to the presence of amyloid and tau proteins.
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