An international scientific study has shown that measuring levels of a specific protein in the blood may help estimate the likelihood of developing cognitive decline associated with Alzheimer's disease, approximately ten years before its symptoms appear, opening the door to developing early detection methods and assessing the disease's risks.
The scientific website Science Daily reported in an article published the day before yesterday that the study was led by researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital at Massachusetts General Hospital, with participation from scientists in North America, Japan, and Australia. It relied on data from six observational studies and clinical trials involving 2,684 elderly individuals who showed no signs of cognitive impairment at the start of their participation.
Focus on the Biomarker
Researchers focused on measuring levels of "phosphorylated tau protein at position 217" (p-tau217), a biomarker associated with brain changes accompanying Alzheimer's disease, to study its ability to predict the onset of memory and thinking problems before they are detected clinically.
The team collected blood samples from participants and performed brain examinations using Positron Emission Tomography (PET), then monitored their cognitive functions annually to track any changes in memory, thinking, and other mental abilities.
Accuracy of Results and Challenges
The results, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), showed that elevated protein levels were associated with an increased likelihood of future cognitive impairment. The probability of its occurrence among individuals with very high levels of the biomarker reached approximately 38 percent within five years and rose to 78 percent within ten years.
Researchers noted that risk estimates over a ten-year period are based on less follow-up data, making them less accurate and requiring verification in additional studies.
Other Factors and Future Impacts
The study also demonstrated that the protein retained its ability to predict cognitive decline even after accounting for other factors, including the accumulation of beta-amyloid protein plaques in the brain and genetic factors associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer's, such as the APOE4 gene.
Researchers believe these findings may contribute to the development of tests that help estimate the risk of cognitive decline before symptoms appear, supporting the trend toward early detection of changes associated with Alzheimer's disease.
Alzheimer's is a progressive neurological disease affecting the brain and is the most common cause of dementia, leading to a gradual decline in memory, thinking, and mental abilities, which affects a person's ability to perform daily activities.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
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