early detection of alzheimer's using biomarkers

Filed in archive Diagnostics on February 7, 2006

Memory loss or confusion can either be normal signs of aging or early signs of dementia that could progress over time. But determining which patients (experiencing such conditions) will progress to Alzheimer's disease is difficult.

Swedish scientists have found that a compound or biomarkers in cerebrospinal fluid could be a diagnostic tool to help determine early signs of Alzheimer's.

Using these biomarkers, we can identify patients with Alzheimer's disease when they have only mild memory disturbances," said Kaj Blennow, of Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Goteborg, Sweden.

Blennow and his colleagues found that elderly people with mild cognitive impairment who have raised levels of b-amyloid, and tau biomarkers in cerebrospinal fluid were more likely to suffer from Alzheimer's.

There is no cure for Alzheimer's disease. Thus, early diagnosis is important because there are drugs available that can improve the symptoms of the illness. To diagnose Alzheimer's early, the researchers suggest combining biomarkers with clinical examinations and other tools like brain imaging and cognitive tests.