Alzheimer’s disease is a brain disorder that slowly takes away a person’s memory and thinking skills. Over time, it also makes it hard for people to do simple tasks.
Millions of people around the world live with this condition. Scientists are working hard to find ways to spot the disease early—before it causes serious problems.
A new study from the University of California San Diego may have found a helpful clue. The researchers discovered that an enzyme in the blood called PHGDH could be used to detect Alzheimer’s early.
PHGDH helps the body make an important amino acid called serine. Serine is needed to build proteins and keep the brain healthy. In this study, scientists found that older adults with high levels of PHGDH in their blood were more likely to have Alzheimer’s, even if they didn’t yet have symptoms like memory loss.
The researchers looked at brain samples from four groups of people aged 50 and older. Each group had 40 to 50 people. Some had Alzheimer’s, some were healthy, and some had no symptoms but were likely starting to develop the disease. In every group, people with Alzheimer’s or early signs of it had higher levels of PHGDH in their brains.
Even people who seemed healthy but had high PHGDH levels were probably in the early stages of the disease. As Alzheimer’s got worse, PHGDH levels continued to rise. This was also seen in mice bred to have Alzheimer’s.
People who did poorly on memory and thinking tests also had more PHGDH, which shows a link between this enzyme and brain function. Because of this, the researchers believe that testing for PHGDH in blood could one day help doctors spot Alzheimer’s early.
This could give people more time to prepare and possibly slow the disease. But the study also raises some concerns. Some people think that taking serine supplements might help with memory problems. However, because PHGDH helps make serine, and PHGDH levels are already high in people with Alzheimer’s, adding more serine might make things worse.
The researchers suggest being cautious with serine supplements until more is known. Clinical trials are already testing these supplements, but this new study shows we need to be careful.
This research, led by Professor Sheng Zhong, was published in the journal Cell Metabolism. It gives us a better idea of how Alzheimer’s starts and points to PHGDH as a possible early warning sign.
There is still no cure for Alzheimer’s, but people can take steps to reduce their risk. Exercising regularly helps the brain by improving blood flow and reducing inflammation. Eating healthy foods—like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and olive oil—can also protect the brain. The Mediterranean diet has been linked to lower Alzheimer’s risk.
Keeping the brain active by reading, doing puzzles, and spending time with others is also helpful. Managing health problems like high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol is important too, since these can raise the risk of Alzheimer’s.
In short, this new study shows that PHGDH could help us find Alzheimer’s earlier. But it also reminds us to think carefully about treatments and to continue learning more about this complex disease.
If you care about Alzheimer’s disease, please read studies that bad lifestyle habits can cause Alzheimer’s disease, and strawberries can be good defence against Alzheimer’s.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies that oral cannabis extract may help reduce Alzheimer’s symptoms, and Vitamin E may help prevent Parkinson’s disease.
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