Diagnosis years before symptoms appear – healing practice

Alzheimer’s can be diagnosed before symptoms appear

A new study has shown that Crohn’s Alzheimer years before the occurrence of symptoms can be diagnosed. This could lead to faster initiation of treatment, increasing the chance of preventing or slowing down future cognitive decline.

A large study conducted by Lund University in Sweden has shown that people with Alzheimer can now be identified before they show any symptoms. The study results were published in the journal “Nature Medicine” released.

Two proteins linked to Alzheimer’s

As in a current Message of Lund University, it has long been known that there are two proteins associated with Alzheimer’s – beta-amyloid, which forms plaques in the brain, and tau, which later accumulates in brain cells.

Raised mirrors of these proteins in combination with cognitive impairment previously formed the basis for the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s.

“Between ten and twenty years before a patient experiences significant symptoms, changes in the Brain and only when the dew spreads do the nerve cells die off and the affected person has the first cognitive problems.”explains Oskar Hansson, senior physician in neurology at Skåne University Hospital and professor at Lund University.

“This is why Alzheimer’s is in early stage so hard to diagnose”according to the doctor.

Not a risk factor, but a diagnosis

The scientist now has a large international research study conducted with 1,325 participants from Sweden, the USA, the Netherlands and Australia. At the beginning of the study, the subjects had no cognitive impairment.

With the help of PET scans the presence of tau and amyloid in the brains of the participants could be visualized.

It was found that the people in whom the two proteins were detected had a 20 to 40 times higher risk had developed the disease several years later at follow-up compared to those who had no biological changes.

“When both beta-amyloid and tau are present in the brain, this can no longer be considered a risk factor, but rather a diagnosis be considered”says Rik Ossenkupplunge, first author of the study and senior researcher at Lund University and Amsterdam University Medical Center.

“A pathologist who is such brain samples examined would immediately diagnose Alzheimer’s in the patient.”

Two schools of thought among researchers

According to Ossenkupplunge, Alzheimer’s researchers belong to two schools of thought on the one hand, those who believe that Alzheimer’s disease cannot be diagnosed until cognitive impairment begins.

And then there are those, including himself and his colleagues, who say that a diagnosis is purely based on the biology and what can be seen in the brain.

“You can compare our results with prostate cancer, for example. If you have a biopsy and find cancer cells, the diagnosis is cancer, even if the person has not yet developed symptoms.”according to Ossenkupplunge.

New drug gives hope

As the release goes on to say, positive study results have recently been published, which are consistent with a new drug against Alzheimer’s disease, lecanemab. On this basis, the study by Lund University is particularly interesting, say the researchers.

“If we can diagnose the disease before cognitive challenges arise, we may be able to use the drug to treat the disease at a very early stage slow it down“explains Hansson.

“Combined with physical activity and good nutrition, you would then have a greater chance of preventing or slowing down future cognitive decline. However, more research is needed before one treatment recommended for people who have not yet developed memory loss”, concludes the scientist. (ad)