Alzheimer's Breakthrough

In London, scientists have found the five basic signs of the most dreaded disease to strike the elderly population, Alzheimer’s disease.  Due to recent research doctors may be able to detected if a patient with be affected by it 25 years in advance and before the onset of the disease.  Many believe this could be a breakthrough discovery in leading to the diagnosis and treatment because of the invisible timeline the information maps out.  The Washington University School of Medicine studied families with genetic risks and reported their findings in The New England Journal of Medicine.  The study consisted of 128 individuals from the United Kingdom, United States, and Australia who all had a 50% chance of inheriting one of the three mutations that cause early onset Alzheimer’s and most often develops between the ages of 30 and 40.  The potential victims all had equal risk based on the fact that only one of their parents suffered from the disease.  This also came into consideration when determining the possible symptoms could appear in those intended to get it.  Alzheimer’s usually shows itself during a person’s 60’s and those with the correct genetic mutation will go on to develop the dreaded disease.  Scientists tested blood and spinal fluid, looked at brain scans and made subjects take part in mental ability assessments.

1.  A change in spinal fluid levels: the first change of the key ingredient of Alzheimer’s brain plaques can be detected 25 years

2.  Raised levels of tau: this is a structural protein found in brain cells that can be detected 15 years in advance.

3.  Shrinkage of select parts of the brain

4.  A change in the way the brain uses glucose- 10 years prior

5.  Memory problems- 10 years prior

Dr Laurie Ryan, clinical trials program director at the National Institute on Aging, in America, said: "These exciting findings are the first to confirm what we have long suspected, that disease onset begins years before the first sign of cognitive decline or memory loss.

http://www.firstpost.com/living/alzheimers-can-be-predicted-25-years-early-scientists-375903.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9391769/Five-signs-that-predict-Alzheimers-disease-25-years-before-memory-fails-study.html

http://racingalzheimers.com/killing-mom/