University of Wisconsin-Madison Alzheimer’s researchers have identified a scientific approach that may help predict which older adults are more likely to develop cognitive symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease well before the onset of dementia.
This approach – which statistically analyzes a panel of biomarkers – could help identify people most likely to benefit from drugs or other interventions to slow the progress of the disease. The study was published in the August edition of the journal Brain.
“The Alzheimer’s Association estimates that if we had a prevention that merely pushed back the clinical symptoms of the disease by five years, it would almost cut in half the number of people projected to develop dementia,” says Annie Racine, a doctoral candidate and the study’s lead author. “That translates into millions of lives and billions of dollars saved.”
Dr. Sterling Johnson, the study’s senior author, says that while brain changes – such as the buildup of beta-amyloid plaques and tangles of another substance called tau – are markers of the disease, not everyone with these brain changes develops Alzheimer’s symptoms.
“Until now, we haven’t had a great way to use the biomarkers to predict who was going to develop clinical symptoms of the disease,” Johnson says. “Although the new algorithm isn’t perfect, now we can say with greater certainty who is at increased risk and more likely to decline.” … Read More>>
Source: Medical Xpress
