International research is trying to find a way to diagnose Alzheimer’s earlier. A saliva test could spot abnormal brain substances before the first symptoms appear.
A saliva sample could support a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers at the University of Alberta (Canada) have developed a saliva test. It analyzes metabolites, produced by chemical reactions in the brain, and identifies abnormalities specific to this neurodegenerative disease. The encouraging results of their small study were presented at the International Conference on Alzheimer’s, which is being held in Washington DC (United States), from July 18 to 23.
Substances that reflect symptoms
The saliva test developed by Canadians reviews some 6,000 metabolites. Some are abnormal and indicate a chemical reaction disrupted by Alzheimer’s disease or mild cognitive decline. These are called biomarkers. The objective of this study was to identify these biomarkers and to determine whether they are associated with a symptom of the disease.
82 people participated in this study. 22 of them had Alzheimer’s disease, 25 of mild cognitive decline. The technique has been reproduced in a smaller population (27 people).
The saliva test can distinguish between healthy people, those with cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s patients. Indeed, some metabolites have a higher level in participants with a simple cognitive disorder or suffering from Alzheimer’s. Their presence results in episodic poor memory. Another substance is very present in the saliva of Alzheimer’s patients, which manifests itself in a reduced speed of analysis of information.
Diagnose earlier
There are several advantages to performing a saliva test. Not only is this approach minimally invasive, it is also cost effective. It “has the promising potential to predict and track cognitive decline,” comments Shraddha Sapkota, who presented the study. The possibility of using saliva to find therapeutic targets that regulate the metabolic component of Alzheimer’s, which is still poorly understood, is also important. “
Of course, trials with larger populations are needed to confirm these results. But they raise the hope of an earlier diagnosis of the disease. “The consensus is that Alzheimer’s disease begins with changes in the brain, which occur while people still have normal cognitive function, and accelerate the progression of the disease,” explains Dr. Maria Carrillo, Scientific Director of the Alzheimer’s Association. . However, the diagnosis is made at a late stage of the disease, usually when the symptoms are serious enough to require a visit to the doctor. “
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