A new study has found a possible way to detect Alzheimer’s disease earlier, even before symptoms begin. Researchers discovered that people with abnormal levels of a protein called amyloid in their blood also showed subtle changes in their brain structure.
These changes were detected using a special type of MRI scan. This could lead to an earlier and easier way to identify Alzheimer’s disease, giving doctors more time to intervene.
Studying the Early Signs of Alzheimer’s
Scientists from the University of Florida and other institutions examined 128 participants, some with dementia and some without. They used a well-known brain scan called a PET scan to look for amyloid plaques, which are a key sign of Alzheimer’s disease.
However, they also tested a newer method called diffusion MRI (or “free-water” imaging) to detect tiny changes in the brain.
What they found was surprising: Even when a person had no visible amyloid plaques on a PET scan and showed no signs of dementia, if they had abnormal levels of amyloid in their blood, their brain already showed subtle structural changes. This suggests that certain brain changes might start before traditional scans can detect the disease.
How the Study Worked
The researchers used a blood test called Quest AD-Detect to measure levels of amyloid beta 42/40, a protein linked to Alzheimer’s. They then compared the results to brain scans.
The newer MRI method measured “free-water” in the brain—this refers to fluid that is not held within brain cells. An increase in free-water can be a sign of brain cell damage, which can result from inflammation or cell death.
The study found that people with abnormal amyloid blood test results had increased free-water in several parts of the brain, reduced brain volume, and thinner brain tissue, even if their PET scan was negative for amyloid plaques.
These findings suggest that brain changes may begin earlier than previously thought and that the blood test combined with the newer MRI method might be a useful tool for early detection.
Why This Matters
Currently, diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease is difficult. Doctors rely on a combination of cognitive tests, medical history, and expensive imaging techniques like PET scans or spinal fluid analysis.
By the time Alzheimer’s is diagnosed, significant brain damage may have already occurred. Finding a way to detect the disease earlier could allow doctors to intervene sooner with treatments that might slow its progression.
This study provides hope that simple blood tests, combined with advanced MRI scans, could help doctors identify Alzheimer’s much earlier. If researchers confirm these findings in future studies, it could lead to better early screening tools and allow patients to participate in clinical trials sooner.
Next Steps in Research
The next phase of this research will involve tracking participants over time to see if those with abnormal amyloid levels in their blood eventually develop visible amyloid plaques in their brains. Researchers also want to see how brain structure changes over time and whether these changes are linked to symptoms of cognitive decline.
According to senior researcher Dr. David Vaillancourt, understanding the timeline of these brain changes could help doctors predict who is at risk of developing Alzheimer’s. The goal is to use these findings to improve early diagnosis and treatment, potentially giving patients a better chance at managing the disease.
Review and Analysis
This study adds to the growing evidence that Alzheimer’s disease may start long before traditional symptoms appear. The fact that subtle brain changes can be detected using a non-invasive MRI scan and a simple blood test is an exciting discovery. It could lead to earlier diagnosis and, ultimately, better treatment options.
However, more research is needed to confirm these results. Since not everyone with abnormal amyloid levels develops Alzheimer’s, scientists need to follow patients over time to understand how these changes progress.
If future studies confirm these findings, the combination of blood tests and advanced MRI scans could become a standard method for detecting Alzheimer’s disease before symptoms appear, offering hope for early intervention and better patient outcomes.
If you care about brain health, please read studies about vitamin D deficiency linked to Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia, and blood pressure problem at night may increase Alzheimer’s risk.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies about antioxidants that could help reduce dementia risk, and epilepsy drug may help treat Alzheimer’s disease.
The research findings can be found in Alzheimer’s & Dementia.
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