Researchers from Lund University in Sweden have made a major discovery that could change how we diagnose and treat Lewy body disease, one of the top causes of dementia.
Until recently, the only way to confirm a diagnosis was to examine a person’s brain after they had passed away. But now, scientists have found a way to detect the disease while the person is still alive.
Lewy body disease may not be widely known, but it causes serious health problems like Lewy body dementia and Parkinson’s disease. These conditions affect how people move, think, and remember things. The disease is caused by clumps of protein, called Lewy bodies, that build up in the brain.
In the past, doctors could only be sure someone had Lewy body disease by examining the brain during an autopsy. But now, researchers have developed a new test that looks at the fluid around the brain and spinal cord. This test can find signs of the harmful Lewy body proteins.
When they tested over 1,100 people who had no memory or movement problems, they discovered that nearly 10% already had signs of Lewy bodies. This means that it may be possible to detect the disease early—before symptoms even begin. This kind of early diagnosis could be a big step forward in treating the disease and slowing it down.
The researchers also found an interesting link between Lewy body disease and the sense of smell. People who tested positive for Lewy bodies were already having trouble with their sense of smell, even though they felt fine otherwise.
Because of this, scientists suggest that people over the age of 60 might benefit from a simple smell test. If someone does poorly on the smell test, doctors could then check their spinal fluid for Lewy bodies.
Why is this important? Getting an early diagnosis gives doctors the chance to treat the disease before it causes major problems. Right now, scientists are working on new drugs that could slow down or even stop Lewy body disease. If the disease is caught early, these treatments might work better.
The study also found that some people with Lewy body disease also had signs of Alzheimer’s disease. Knowing this could help doctors better understand how fast the disease might get worse and what kind of help the person might need.
Researchers are hopeful, but they say that making a blood test for Lewy body disease will be harder. That’s because there are fewer of the target proteins in blood than in brain fluid. Still, this new discovery gives hope to many people and could lead to better care and treatment in the future.
To stay updated on brain health, watch for new research on how walking patterns may help identify types of dementia or how high blood pressure can lead to memory loss.
The study was published in the well-known science journal Nature Medicine.
If you care about dementia, please read studies about Scientists find a simple solution to fight dementia and findings of Big causes of memory loss, dementia you need to know.
For more about dementia, please read studies about People who take high blood pressure medications have lower dementia risk and findings of Early indicators of dementia: 5 behaviour changes to look for after age 50.
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