“Biomarkers” for Early Alzheimer Diagnosis

Scientists believe that they are on the right track in finding a new way to detect Alzheimer’s disease at an early stage. Using specific proteins as “biomarkers”, researchers are hopeful that the same proteins hold the answer to early diagnosis and even treatment.

Researchers from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York and Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City will be publishing their study in the journal Annals of Neurology. Their study resulted in accurate diagnosis of 90 percent of the test patients.

Looking at 2000 cerebrospinal fluid proteins taken in spinal taps from 68 patients, they isolated 23 proteins that formed a pattern indicating the presence of Alzheimer's.

"Although it need not have turned out that way, several of the 23 markers that emerged from this analysis proved to be proteins with known links to the pathological mechanisms of Alzheimer's disease," said neurologist Dr. Norman Relkin of Weill Cornell Medical College, who was involved in the study.

According to the Mosby Medical Encyclopedia, Alzheimer’s disease is a degenerative brain disease that can lead to confusion, memory loss, restlessness and problems with perception. The disease often starts in late middle life.

Mostly occurring in men than in women, Alzheimer’s has been often confused with other forms of dementia because of difficulties in diagnosing it. At present, there is no treatment for the disease and early diagnosis using these proteins can only help in slowing down its progression.

An estimated 4.5 million Americans are reported to have Alzheimer’s disease and these numbers are likely to triple by 2050.

"We‘re looking to an era in which the kinds of uncertainties that many patients and their families face about the diagnosis of Alzheimer‘s disease will no longer be a problem," predicts Dr. Relkin.

“But the new protein pattern requires rigorous validation by other researchers to make sure it really is linked to Alzheimer's,” he cautioned.