Health Discoveries in General Health News
Spinal fluid proteins linked to Alzheimer's disease
August 16, 2010
Measurements of certain proteins in spinal fluids could have far-reaching answers for predicting and diagnosing Alzheimer's disease in both those with memory problems and healthy individuals, the Archives of Neurology reported.
A research team from Ghent University found that traces of beta amyloid and tau, two proteins associated with the disease, accurately detected Alzheimer's in 90 percent of patients with the disease. Researchers also were able to detect 100 percent of people with memory impairments who would progress to Alzheimer's disease within five years, as well as Alzheimer's proteins in 36 percent of the healthy individuals they tested.
"The unexpected presence of the Alzheimer's disease signature in more than one-third of cognitively normal subjects suggests that Alzheimer's disease pathology is active and detectable earlier than has heretofore been envisioned," said university researcher Geert De Meyer.
Recently, the U.S. National Institute on Aging and the Alzheimer's Association proposed new guidelines for diagnosing Alzheimer's before patients show symptoms, which include measurements of cerebral-spinal fluid.
One of several clinical studies under way at the Litwin-Zucker Research Center, which researches Alzheimer's disease for the North Shore-LIJ Health System, has focused on how memory disorders relate to memory and thinking, as well as behavior, emotions and physical health.
A research team from Ghent University found that traces of beta amyloid and tau, two proteins associated with the disease, accurately detected Alzheimer's in 90 percent of patients with the disease. Researchers also were able to detect 100 percent of people with memory impairments who would progress to Alzheimer's disease within five years, as well as Alzheimer's proteins in 36 percent of the healthy individuals they tested.
"The unexpected presence of the Alzheimer's disease signature in more than one-third of cognitively normal subjects suggests that Alzheimer's disease pathology is active and detectable earlier than has heretofore been envisioned," said university researcher Geert De Meyer.
Recently, the U.S. National Institute on Aging and the Alzheimer's Association proposed new guidelines for diagnosing Alzheimer's before patients show symptoms, which include measurements of cerebral-spinal fluid.
One of several clinical studies under way at the Litwin-Zucker Research Center, which researches Alzheimer's disease for the North Shore-LIJ Health System, has focused on how memory disorders relate to memory and thinking, as well as behavior, emotions and physical health.