While significant research has been conducted on brain changes in symptomatic Alzheimer’s disease (AD), our understanding of early alterations in the disease process remains limited.
Identifying these changes is challenging due to difficulties in predicting who will develop AD in the near future and the time-consuming methods typically used.
However, a recent study conducted at the University of Tsukuba has shed light on brain network changes in a specific population at high risk for Alzheimer’s disease.
Investigating High-Risk Individuals Using Advanced Imaging Techniques
The research team recruited older adults who carried the apolipoprotein E4 gene, known to increase the risk of AD and the accumulation of beta-amyloid protein in the brain—a hallmark of AD.
Participants did not yet have dementia, allowing researchers to study preclinical AD.
Positron emission tomography (PET) was used to detect amyloid accumulation, while magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was employed to investigate changes in brain networks.
These imaging techniques are advantageous as they are widely available and efficient.
The Role of the Left Parietal Region in Preclinical AD
The study found a significant relationship between beta-amyloid accumulation and the left parietal region in individuals with preclinical AD.
Specifically, the left parietal region exhibited greater “betweenness centrality,” indicating its increased influence on the transfer of information within the brain network.
However, no other AD-related brain measures were associated with amyloid accumulation.
Implications for Early Diagnosis and Clinical Trials
These findings suggest that alterations in the brain network occur early in the progression of AD, even before significant structural and cognitive changes manifest.
The increased importance of the left parietal region could serve as a potential diagnostic marker for early AD.
Additionally, this knowledge can aid in selecting suitable candidates for clinical drug trials and evaluating treatment efficacy.
Many interventions aim to prevent AD in individuals without symptoms, making it crucial to identify those at high risk.
Advancing Early Detection and Treatment Evaluation
This study provides valuable insights into early brain network changes in preclinical Alzheimer’s disease.
By focusing on individuals at high risk for AD, researchers have identified a significant association between beta-amyloid accumulation and the increased influence of the left parietal region in the brain network.
These findings have potential implications for early AD diagnosis, subject selection in clinical trials, and assessing treatment effectiveness.
As research continues, we move closer to better understanding and managing Alzheimer’s disease at its earliest stages.
If you care about Alzheimer’s disease, please read studies about why some older people less likely to have Alzheimer’s disease, and this daily habit could help treat Alzheimer’s disease.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies about antioxidants that could help reduce dementia risk, and strawberries could help prevent Alzheimer’s disease
The study was published in Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging.
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