The first test to predict an individual’s likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s disease has been created.
New Scientist reports a blood test that can spot concentrations of 10 chemicals typically linked with the disease. And the test proved 96% accurate in diagnosing whether a person would in the next two to three years develop the disease.
Researchers drew blood from 525 healthy adults over 70 years of age. After tracking their health for five years, a total of 28 of them had developed Alzheimer’s disease or the cognitive impairments that usually foreshadow it.
The researchers then reviewed and analyzed the participants’ blood from the beginning of the study to see what made each of these cases different. The result was the realization that the key to detecting this disease lives in our fats.
Specifically, the participants with lower levels of 10 specific lipids ended up developing of Alzheimer’s disease down the road. The researchers believe this lower levels of lipids could be a signal “…of the early breakdown of certain types of neurons in the brain.”
In some cases, this breakdown begins occurring 10 to 20 years before the onset of Alzheimer’s
Lead researcher Howard Federoff at Georgetown University in Washington DC told New Scientist the next step in the research is to refine the blood test. His goal is to detect changes in lipids much sooner, like a decade or two sooner.
We all understand the value of early detection for a variety of diseases. Catching something early allows patients and doctors to either beat the illness, or manage it better. Therefore, detecting Alzheimer’s early through a blood test can possibly have tremendous impacts on treatments and drug development.
To Know, or Not to Know
There is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, so the big question becomes a matter of whether people will want to know years in advance if they’ll get Alzheimer’s or not.
Lots of people may prefer not to know until the diseases manifests. However, Federoff acknowledged there are many other variables to consider besides treatment. “We may not have any therapy yet but there are things we can do — we can get our financial and legal affairs in order, plan for future care, and inform family members.”
It is hard to say what the percentages might be regarding those who may and those who many not want to know that in “X” number of years Alzheimer’s disease will begin.
Currently, there are 35 million people world-wide living with Alzheimer’s. Once fully developed, the blood test should provide an inexpensive and quick way of predicting the disease.
If the drugs developed to combat the loss of these specific lipids are dependent upon an early diagnosis, clearly that would influence individuals to get tested.
While the blood test is not yet available, knowing it will be in the near future is exciting news!
