-
An amyloid-based blood test for
Alzheimer’s disease.
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Using Neurofilament light chain
to identify multiple diseases that cause
dementia.
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A future
marker for dementia with Lewy
bodies?
Three new studies
presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference
(AAIC) 2019 in Los Angeles today (Monday 15 July) shed light on
the progress towards developing blood-based tests for the
diseases that cause dementia.
An amyloid-based blood test for
Alzheimer’s disease
In a study presented at the Alzheimer’s
Association International Conference today (Monday 15 July),
researchers investigated whether an amyloid-based blood test for
Alzheimer’s disease could be
possible.
Dr Carol Routledge, Director of Research
at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said:
“We know that Alzheimer’s brain changes can begin
decades before dementia symptoms start to show. These very early
stages are likely to be the time when future drugs would be most
effective.
“At the moment we can only diagnose
Alzheimer’s when symptoms appear. PET brain scans can provide
some warning signs of early disease, but these are very expensive
and require specialist, high-tech facilities.
“This study raises the possibility of a
straight-forward and cost-effective method for identifying people
with early Alzheimer’s brain changes. A reliable blood test would
be a huge boost for drug trials, allowing researchers to test
potential medicines at an earlier stage when they are likely to
be most effective.
“While we are yet to see the full
findings from this research, much more testing and refinement
will likely be necessary before a test like this could be used to
support doctors making a diagnosis in the
clinic.”
Using Neurofilament light chain
to identify multiple diseases that cause
dementia
In a
study presented at the Alzheimer’s
Association International Conference today (Monday 15
July), researchers looked to see
whether levels of Nfl in the blood could distinguish several
different diseases that cause
dementia.
Dr Carol Routledge, Director of Research
at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said:
“Neurofilament light chain protein is the most reliable
biological indicator of ongoing damage in the brain. At the
moment researchers analyse levels of the protein in spinal fluid
that they have to collect through a lumbar puncture, but a blood
test would be a much simpler
procedure.
“Measuring neurofilament light chain in
blood holds real potential as an effective test for suspected
brain damage, but it can’t tell us the underlying cause. At
Alzheimer’s Research UK we are exploring multiple different ways
to detect specific diseases that cause dementia, and to drive
progress towards more reliable and timely
diagnosis.”
Alpha
synuclein test for
Alzheimer’s
In a
study presented at the Alzheimer’s
Association International Conference today (Monday 15
July), researchers report key
Alzheimer’s-related differences that could be picked up by blood
tests.
Dr Carol Routledge, Director of Research
at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said:
“The amyloid and tau proteins are the main biological hallmarks
of Alzheimer’s and have been the major focus of researchers
working on blood tests for the disease. Alpha synuclein plays a
major role in Parkinson’s disease, but this research suggests
that analysing levels of this protein in the blood could help to
identify people with Alzheimer’s.
“The findings presented from this small
study show an interesting trend but need to be investigated
further. Future research must look at whether it can discriminate
between Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and other related conditions and
whether its level of accuracy can be
improved.”
Ends
Notes to
editors
Taken from 3
abstracts:
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What
Kind of Information Does the Plasma Amyloid-B Biomarker Tell
Us? is
presented on Monday 15 July 2019 by Akinori
Nakamura.
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Plasma Neurofilament Light a Pan-
Neurodegenerative
Marker is
presented on Monday 15 July 2019 by Abdul
Hye.
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Potential Diagnostic Value of Red
Blood cells a-Synuclein Heteroaggregates in Alzhiemer’s
Disease is
presented on Monday 15 July 2019 by Filippo
Baldacci.
