Four studies presented at the 2015 Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Washington have reported that brain scans, memory tests and body fluids like saliva may be the keys to understanding whether a person is likely to develop Alzheimer’s in cases where the individuals have not yet presented with memory and thinking problems caused by the disease.
The excess of certain proteins in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) has been shown to be strong predictors of Alzheimer’s according to two studies, with a stronger accuracy of these predictions when compared to other diagnostic tools like memory tests or MRI brain scans. The new ways of creating images of inflammation in the brain with PET scans could in the future help to identify treatments that have a positive effect on the brain, another study suggested. One final study showed that it might be possible to identify Alzheimer’s-like changes in the person’s saliva making information about early diagnosis and tracking of disease progression more easily obtained, affordable and safe.
“There is now consensus that Alzheimer’s disease begins with changes in the brain that are happening while people are still cognitively normal, decades before memory and thinking problems begin, which then accelerate as the disease progresses”
Dean Hartley, PhD, Alzheimer’s Association Director of Science Initiatives, said “Still, diagnosis of Alzheimer’s usually happens fairly late in the progression of the disease, typically not until symptoms are severe enough to prompt a visit to the doctor.”
“Earlier diagnosis or, better still, the ability to predict the onset of Alzheimer’s, would significantly increase the window of opportunity a person with Alzheimer’s has to formulate an informed response to the news and empower them to be an active participant in decision-making while they still have the ability. It also would help researchers choose participants for treatment research, especially people at the earliest, pre-symptomatic stages of the disease who are needed for prevention trials,” Hartley said.
It is reported that only 45% of people with Alzheimer’s disease or their caregivers were informed of the diagnosis by their doctor, as found in the Alzheimer’s Association 2015 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures. The Alzheimer’s Association 2015 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures Research has also suggested that a possible reason why doctors aren’t disclosing a diagnosis may be because they do not have the sufficient amount of time or resources required to provide the patients and caregivers with the adequate amount of support when the diagnosis is given. Using these new methods will allow for more time between diagnosis and the onset of symptoms and hopefully change that situation and allow increased support for patients and caregivers.