A new study may have
identified five signs that could predict Alzheimer's disease years before a patient's memory starts to deteriorate.
According to research published in the New England Journal of Medicine, a team
at Washington University School of Medicine looked at families with a genetic
risk of the disease.
They found that the earliest sign of the disease was a drop in spinal fluid
concentrations of the key component of Alzheimer's brain plaque which could be
detected up to 25 years prior to the onset of memory deterioration.
"As we learn more about the origins of Alzheimer's to plan preventive
treatments, this Alzheimer's timeline will be invaluable for successful drug
trials," stated study author Dr Randall Bateman.
Although the results were ascertained by studying patients who were at high
risk of the condition, experts believe the findings will greatly inform
treatment of late onset Alzheimer's too.
The Alzheimer's Society states 800,000 people in the UK currently suffer from
the illness.
© Adfero Ltd
Alzheimer's treatment news : 13 July 2012
