Alzheimer’s disease is a serious brain condition that affects many people around the world, especially older adults. It slowly gets worse over time and causes memory loss, confusion, and difficulty with thinking and decision-making.
The disease is linked to harmful buildups in the brain, such as beta-amyloid plaques and twisted fibers called tangles. These damage brain cells and make it harder for the brain to work properly.
A new study from the University of California San Diego has found something that could help detect Alzheimer’s early. Scientists discovered that high levels of a certain enzyme in the blood, called PHGDH, may be a warning sign of Alzheimer’s—even before a person starts to have memory problems.
This finding is important because early detection could lead to earlier treatments, which might slow down the disease or make symptoms less severe.
PHGDH is an enzyme that helps the body make an amino acid called serine. Serine is important for building proteins and keeping the brain healthy. In healthy people, PHGDH levels are kept in balance. But in this study, scientists found that people with Alzheimer’s had much higher levels of PHGDH in their brains—even before symptoms appeared.
To make sure their discovery was accurate, the scientists looked at brain tissue samples from people over 50 years old. The samples came from four research groups. Each group included people with Alzheimer’s, people with early brain changes, and people with healthy brains.
In every group, people with Alzheimer’s had more PHGDH than those with healthy brains. They also found that the more PHGDH someone had, the worse they did on memory and thinking tests.
The researchers also studied mice that were genetically made to develop Alzheimer’s. Just like in humans, these mice had higher levels of PHGDH in their brains. This shows a strong connection between PHGDH and Alzheimer’s in both animals and people.
Another interesting part of the study was about serine supplements. Some people take serine pills to try to boost brain health. But since PHGDH helps produce serine, and people with Alzheimer’s already have too much of it, taking extra serine might not be a good idea. It could even be harmful.
The researchers suggest waiting for more studies before taking serine supplements for brain health.
The study also raises hope for a simple blood test in the future. If doctors can check PHGDH levels in blood, they might be able to find out who is at risk of Alzheimer’s before any symptoms start. This could lead to earlier treatment and better results.
Even though there is no cure for Alzheimer’s yet, there are things people can do to lower their risk. Exercise is very helpful. It increases blood flow to the brain and helps reduce swelling in the body. Eating a healthy diet, like the Mediterranean diet that includes lots of fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats, can also protect brain health.
Keeping your mind active by reading, solving puzzles, or learning new things is also good for your brain. Socializing and managing health problems like high blood pressure or diabetes can help too.
The study, led by scientist Sheng Zhong and published in the journal Cell Metabolism, brings us closer to understanding how Alzheimer’s begins. It also gives hope that one day we could detect it early with a simple blood test and help people live healthier, longer lives.
If you care about Alzheimer’s, please read studies about the likely cause of Alzheimer’s disease , and new non-drug treatment that could help prevent Alzheimer’s.
For more health information, please see recent studies about diet that may help prevent Alzheimer’s, and results showing some dementia cases could be prevented by changing these 12 things.
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