A recent study suggests that certain proteins found in the blood could indicate an individual’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease up to 20 years before symptoms appear.
These biomarkers could help doctors identify those at high risk of dementia earlier.
Researchers analyzed over 4,800 proteins in the blood of more than 10,000 middle-aged people over a period of 25 years. They identified 32 proteins associated with a higher risk of dementia later in life.
Early Biological Changes Identified
According to study author Keenan Walker from the U.S. National Institute on Aging, biological changes in those at risk of dementia can occur as early as middle age, decades before the onset of symptoms.
These changes provide insights into the specific biological processes that may be affected early in individuals at risk for dementia.
The team plans to continue its research in an effort to identify additional proteins that may cause brain changes associated with Alzheimer’s disease. By doing so, they hope to identify new potential therapeutic targets.
External Brain Tissues and Immune System Involved
Notably, some of the biomarkers identified were associated with tissues outside the brain and with immune system function. These changes occurred at least 20 years before dementia onset.
Later in the disease progression, proteins involved in blood coagulation and the complement signaling pathway showed signs of dysfunction. Both these processes have been linked to Alzheimer’s disease risk.
While age remains the most significant risk factor for dementia, other factors, including heart disease, play a role.
Therefore, developing tools for early detection and accurate diagnosis of Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia before symptoms appear is essential. The newly identified proteins could assist with this early detection.
The Role of Proteomics
This study was made possible by the field of proteomics, the large-scale study of proteins.
The ability to analyze thousands of proteins simultaneously is a significant scientific achievement that greatly enhances researchers’ ability to predict Alzheimer’s disease risk.
The research is taking place against a backdrop of other advances in Alzheimer’s disease research, including the FDA’s recent approval of Leqembi, a drug that may slow the progression of Alzheimer’s by reducing amyloid plaques in the brain.
This study is published in the Science Translational Medicine journal.
If you care about Alzheimer’s disease, please read studies about daytime napping strongly linked to Alzheimer’s disease, and how to treat mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies about how Alzheimer’s disease is treated, and results showing alternative drug strategies against Alzheimer’s disease.
The study was published in Science Translational Medicine.
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