American researchers are developing a blood test capable of early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, in order to prevent it. And this, based on the level of tau protein.
Today in France, 900,000 people suffer from Alzheimer’s disease and 225,000 new cases are detected each year. This neurodegenerative pathology is characterized by the deposit of abnormal proteins in the brain, which leads to the progressive death of neurons.
Alzheimer’s disease can manifest itself in several ways: loss of memory, difficulty in expressing oneself, problems with recognition and problems performing certain gestures.
The blood test: easy, fast and economical
To diagnose Alzheimer’s disease, doctors do brain exams and cerebrospinal fluid tests. This is an expensive but accurate procedure. American researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital are currently developing a blood test that could replace these procedures, and even predict pathology before symptoms appear.
Their work is featured in the journal Alzheimer’s and Dementia. The technique developed by the scientists makes it possible to measure the different forms of tau protein – which is known to be involved in the pathology – and to identify a subset of tau proteins specifically elevated in the case of Alzheimer’s disease. This could allow patients to have check-ups regularly, without having to be hospitalized.
Positive results in two groups
To carry out this study, the researchers analyzed five different tests on two groups of participants (one of 65 people, the other of 86 people). One of them, called NT1, has been shown to be effective in making a diagnosis. Further examinations should be carried out on larger groups. Additionally, the researchers want to follow participants over the longer term to determine if tau protein levels change as the disease progresses.
“We have widely disseminated our data and the tools needed to perform our test, as we want other research groups to test it,” says Dominic Walsh, one of the study’s lead authors. .
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