Scientists Identify Early Warning Sign in Blood
A recent study by UCSD researchers provides a novel strategy for predicting an individual’s risk for developing dementia many years before it occurs. By using a simple blood test, doctors could determine whether someone is likely to experience cognitive decline as far ahead as 25 years.
The study, published in JAMA Network Open, examined a protein biomarker known as phosphorylated tau 217 (p-tau217), which is highly correlated with brain pathology associated with both Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia. The presence of elevated levels of p-tau217 was significantly associated with an increased likelihood of developing dementia.
According to the researchers, this study opens new doors for using blood tests to help identify high-risk individuals and potentially prevent cognitive decline.
Study Followed Women for More Than Two Decades
The researchers used data from 2,766 women aged between 65 and 79 years who signed up for the Women’s Health Initiative Memory Study, a long-term national study looking at cognitive decline and age.
All women enrolled in the study had no evidence of cognitive impairment when they began, and a blood sample was taken from each woman when she enrolled to measure the concentration of p-tau217 in her blood.
After a 25-year follow-up, each woman who was evaluated to verify any development of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia was classified.
The overall analysis showed that women with higher concentrations of p-tau217 in their blood were much more likely to develop dementia in future than women with a lower concentration of p-tau217.
Researchers believe it suggests that biological changes occurring in women with dementia begin much earlier than previously believed.
Understanding the Biomarker Behind the Discovery
Protein p-tau217 belongs to a group of tau proteins that stabilize internal structures of nerve cells. In a healthy brain, tau proteins work correctly; however, when they become abnormal, they can accumulate, which contributes to neurodegeneration.
In conditions such as Alzheimer’s, these abnormal proteins accumulate in the brain and cause damage by creating tangles and disrupting communication between brain cells.
The study discovered that increased levels of p-tau217 in the blood reflect these early brain changes prior to the development of clinical symptoms. Researchers state that the measurement of this biomarker through a simple blood test is a major step forward from the traditional methods of diagnosing these diseases with brain scans or spinal fluid analysis.
Blood tests are less invasive, less costly, and more readily available for population testing than traditional diagnostic testing methods.
Risk Not Equal for Everyone
In the current study, elevated levels of p-tau217 were shown to be associated with an increased risk for dementia. However, risk was found to vary based on multiple characteristics. For example, the association between elevated p-tau217 and cognitive decline was found to be stronger in women older than 70 years of age than for younger women in the study. In addition, women with the genetic variant APOE ε4 were also found to have stronger associations between elevated p-tau217 and cognitive decline.
Other factors were also found to influence the data. Specifically, women taking specific hormone therapies were found to have different risk patterns when compared to women not taking hormone therapy, suggesting that hormone fluctuations may play a role in the development of dementia.
The predictive ability of elevated p-tau217 was also observed to be different across races and ethnicities; however, when p-tau217 and age were combined, the predictive ability improved for all race and ethnicity groups.
Researchers indicate that more studies are necessary to determine the reasons for these differences and to demonstrate that the test is accurate across different populations.
Courtesy Of Ultra Perfect ( Flickr CC0)A Step Toward Earlier Prevention
There may be a chance of discovering dementia risk far in advance to when it starts to interfere with everyday life as one key effect of this research.
Severely diminished memory, confusion, and indecisiveness indicate that an individual has entered the severe stage of the illness and that significant damage has accumulated to the brain before reaching this point in time.
The ability to detect dementia risk in its earliest stage allows both doctors and scientists to take preventative measures, i.e., change patient-related lifestyle habits, administer preventative medications, and refer patients to appropriate clinical trials prior to any indication of the illness.
The researchers believe, “If we can identify people at risk of developing dementia years before, the potential exists for implementing early intervention methods and providing the opportunity to establish an effective monitoring process.”
Finally, establishing a means of warning the scientific community of early stage dementia detection, when new treatments are in the process of being tested, can significantly increase the effectiveness of these new treatments on individuals diagnosed early stage dementia.
Potential Impact on Dementia Research
The results are released as dementia continues to escalate as a global health concern. According to international health organizations, over 55 million people worldwide are currently living with dementia, and the figure is expected to escalate as populations age.
Since women are disproportionately affected by dementia, the study’s focus on women may help researchers understand why women are disproportionately affected by the illness.
Researchers say that blood-based biomarkers like p-tau217 may be very important in future research and clinical trials, as they may be used to identify people who are at risk of getting dementia even before symptoms are exhibited.
This may help researchers test potential treatments for dementia earlier in the process, thus providing a better opportunity for slowing down and preventing the illness.
More Research Still Needed
However, despite the promising findings, experts are quick to point out that the test is still not ready for widespread clinical use.
The study was carried out only among women aged between 65 and 79 years old, thus further studies will be needed to see whether the results will be the same for both males and the rest of the population.
Further studies are needed to see how lifestyle factors, such as diet, exercise, education, and heart health, influence the levels of the biomarkers and the risk of dementia.
Further studies will be carried out to refine the blood test and see how it could be used in clinical settings.
Looking Ahead
However, there is still much to be done, and scientists believe that the discovery is a significant milestone in the early biology of dementia.
The potential for the discovery to be replicated in further studies is significant, and the possibility of detecting the risk decades prior to the onset of dementia could be a game-changer in the treatment and prevention of the disease.
Rather than waiting for people to show signs of memory loss, doctors may be able to identify those at risk years in advance, providing a window of opportunity to slow down, halt, or prevent the onset of dementia.
By William Hernandez
Journalist for Vlixx Magazine, reporting on news from around the world, ensuring timely, accurate, and detailed information to keep the public informed and educated.
Sources:
SandiegoUnionTribune.: UCSD study detects dementia risk decades before symptoms appear
Featured Image Courtesy of Rais Data Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
Inset Image Courtesy of Ultra Perfect Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
