The amount of amyloid plaques in a person’s brain predicts the extent of his cognitive decline at 4 years, according to results of a study published in the medical journal JAMA Neurology. A promising new discovery for early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease.
Researchers at the University of Texas at Dallas in the US used Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans to detect amyloid plaques in 184 middle-aged or otherwise healthy people participating in the Brain Study Dallas Lifespan. The accumulation of amyloid plaques on the outside of neurons is one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease. They begin to assemble in the brain 10 to 20 years before the onset of dementia.
“We believe it is essential to screen middle-aged adults for the earliest possible signs of Alzheimer’s disease, as it becomes increasingly clear that early diagnosis will be the key to eventual prevention. this pathology,” said Michelle Farrell, PhD student and lead author of the study.
A new approach to detect Alzheimer’s disease earlier
For these middle-aged adults, the study found that higher amyloid amounts were associated with decreased vocabulary, an area of knowledge typically preserved as people age. Amyloid PET scan results are typically positive or negative, but the new findings suggest that the amount of amyloid in the brain provides useful prognostic information about how quickly cognitive decline may develop.
The results suggest that a new approach may be needed to provide physicians and patients with future information for someone with amyloid plaques.
The researchers also observed that the three middle-aged adults who had the highest amyloid amounts and the greatest loss of vocabulary had a double dose of the ApoE-4 gene involved in Alzheimer’s disease. This means that they received a copy of the gene from each of their parents. Only about 4% of the population carries this genetic combination. This finding suggests the possibility that symptoms of cognitive decline related to amyloid can be detected as early as middle age for this vulnerable population.
“Our understanding of the silent phase of Alzheimer’s disease is increasing rapidly. Providing physicians and patients with more information about the extent of amyloid deposits will provide valuable intelligence that will enable better planning for the future,” said Dr. Denise Park, director of research at the Center for Vital and author of the study.
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