Most Alzheimer’s diagnoses are made when the neuronal damage is already irreversible. Becuase of this very reason, finding a non-invasive method for detection and diagnosis in the earliest stages of the disease currently constitutes one of the grate challenges of clinical practice.
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Alzheimer’s detection
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Blood tests. EFE/Kai Försterling
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Blood tests. EFE/Kai Försterling
The largest study to date shows the possibility of detecting Alzheimer’s through a simple blood test. Alzheimer’s, responsible 60-80% of dementia casesit remains a leading cause of death worldwide without preventative treatment or cure.
What prevention techniques exist?
Detection of Alzheimer’s can be done through two types of tests:
- Cerebrospinal fluid extraction: It is indeed removed through a lumbar puncture similar to an epidural and the fluid surrounding the nervous system is analyzed.
- Neuroimaging techniques: A substance with some radioactive activity is injected into the patient to obtain an image of the brain lesions.
Both interventions, in addition to being invasive for the patient, are very expensive for the healthcare system and are recommended only when the suspicion of the disease is very high. Though, a recent study has proposed a new way of detection which, along with being non-invasive, is able to identify this neurological disease early and is less expensive.
A new way to prevent Alzheimer’s?
This was conducted by a research group led by the ace Alzheimer Center Barcelona, in collaboration with the Sant Pau hospital the largest study to date worldwide on the clinical usefulness of plasma biomarkers in the early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s.
Biomarker pTau181
This biomarker It was discovered more than 20 years agomoment in which researchers discovered that this protein is involved in the degenerative process of Alzheimer’s disease. Be responsible for maintaining the structure of neurons, when there is a I disturb in disease, this protein undergoes a change in structure.
By changing, the protein it is not functional and tends to aggregate inside neurons, causing all the neurotoxic current which is typical of this disease.
Detection through the levels of this biomarker is one method effective, non-invasive and accessible for early diagnosis of the disease.
In the study group of Ace Alzheimer Center of Barcelona Thay applied different cutoffs (patient groups) because, as Dr. Amanda Cano explains, it is very important to evaluate different patient groups with different contexts with the same parameter.
This method allows us to verify that the results obtained are not random and are repeated in multiple groups, which indicates that they can be extrapolated to different types of patients.
Patient groups were classified as follows:
“Detecting levels of this biomarker at the earliest stages will allow us to get closer to these patients in a certain sense more direct, faster and more personalized to be able to stop the neurodegenerative process quickly”, explains the doctor.
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Alzheimer’s detection
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Dr. Amanda Cano, head of the Molecular Biology Programme./Image from the Ace Alzheimer Center in Barcelona
” data-medium-file=” data-large-file=” alt=”Alzheimer detection” class=”wp-image-362443 lazyload” src=” srcset=” 1024w, 300w, 768w, 1169w” data-sizes =”automatic” data-eio-rwidth=”1024″ data-eio-rheight=”492″/>dr. Amanda Cano, head of the Molecular Biology Program. /Image from the Ace Alzheimer Center in Barcelona
Promising results
The results of the study are significant: the use of this biomarker could reduce the need for lumbar punctures by 39%.
Moreover, it would open up the range of possibilities for diagnosing the disease in cases where, for medical reasons, it is indeed not possible to perform a lumbar puncture on patients.
“Plasma biomarkers will revolutionize not only the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, but also the selection of patients for clinical trials and the evaluation of new treatments, facilitating the implementation of precision medicine in this area,” explains Dr.Amanda Cano.
Alzheimer’s is very difficult to detect in the early stages because when the patient begins to show the first clinical symptoms, the alterations that occurred in the brain, have appeared Until 15 years earlier.
Therefore, at that stage, the patient has no perception that there is a problem and To date, there is no diagnostic or detection method who can address this problem in those phases in which no type of clinical alteration is present.
How does the pTau181 biomarker improve the accuracy of Alzheimer’s diagnosis?
Interview with Dr. Sofia ramirez, Expert in Alzheimer’s Research
Time.news Editor: Hello, dr. Ramirez! Thank you for joining us today to discuss a critical issue in Alzheimer’s detection and diagnosis. It’s a pleasure to have you.
Dr. Sofia Ramirez: Thank you for having me! I’m excited to discuss the advancements in early detection methods for Alzheimer’s.
Editor: Let’s dive in. Most Alzheimer’s diagnoses are made when neuronal damage is irreversible.Why is early detection so crucial for improving patient outcomes?
Dr. Ramirez: Early detection of Alzheimer’s is essential because it opens the door to potential interventions that can slow disease progression. Currently,many patients receive a diagnosis only once the damage is done,which limits the effectiveness of any treatment. If we can identify the disease in its early stages, we may have a better chance at implementing preventative strategies and improving quality of life.
Editor: That makes a lot of sense. Traditional methods of detection like cerebrospinal fluid extraction or neuroimaging techniques can be invasive and costly. can you explain how the new blood test, which is based on plasma biomarkers, changes the landscape?
Dr. Ramirez: Absolutely! The recent study conducted by the ACE Alzheimer Center Barcelona and Sant Pau Hospital,which is the largest study to date on plasma biomarkers,shows that we can detect Alzheimer’s using a simple blood test.This approach is non-invasive and significantly cheaper than spinal taps or imaging. It makes the diagnostic process more accessible to a larger population.
Editor: That’s remarkable! Can you shed some light on the biomarker pTau181 and its role in alzheimer’s detection?
Dr. Ramirez: Certainly! The pTau181 biomarker has been known for over 20 years. It is indeed crucial for maintaining the structural integrity of neurons. In Alzheimer’s patients, this protein undergoes structural changes that render it non-functional, leading to its aggregation within neurons.this aggregation contributes to neurotoxicity, causing the neural degeneration characteristic of Alzheimer’s. Measuring pTau181 levels in the blood can thus provide us an effective early warning sign for the disease.
Editor: So, this biomarker not only indicates the presence of Alzheimer’s but can also help us understand its progression?
Dr. Ramirez: Exactly! Tracking levels of pTau181 can give clinicians insight into the stage of the disease and how fast it’s progressing, which is incredibly valuable for tailoring patient management plans.
Editor: What are the next steps in research and submission for these promising blood tests?
Dr.Ramirez: The next steps involve further validating these findings and ensuring that the blood test can be incorporated into standard clinical practice.We need to confirm its effectiveness across diverse populations and settings. If prosperous, widespread adoption could revolutionize the way we approach Alzheimer’s diagnosis.
Editor: Dr.Ramirez, thank you for sharing these critically important insights. The progress being made in early detection is a beacon of hope for families affected by Alzheimer’s.
Dr. Ramirez: Thank you! It’s a team effort, and with continued research, we can make significant strides toward earlier and more effective intervention for alzheimer’s patients.
Editor: We look forward to following these developments. Thank you again for your time!
Dr. Ramirez: Thank you! It was my pleasure.
