Researchers Discover Method of Detecting Pre-Clinical Alzheimer’s Disease
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iStockphoto/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) — A new study has found a new method of detecting pre-clinical Alzheimer’s disease using a simple blood test.
Researchers studying biomarkers in the blood found 10 key lipids, the levels of which help to determine whether the individual will go on to develop cognitive impairment or Alzheimer’s disease. Individuals with lower levels of those lipids were significantly more likely to experience cognitive impairment within three years. In testing, the method has successfully predicted either future mild cognitive impairment or full blown Alzheimer’s more than 90 percent of the time.
The study was led by Georgetown University’s Dr. Howard Federoff, who called the findings “a significant step forward.” Never before, Federoff said, has anyone produced a test that can predict with such a high degree of accuracy whether a clinically asymptomatic individual will develop Alzheimer’s later on.
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