A new test may soon be used to detect the onset of Alzheimer’s earlier than ever before, and may also help rule out the false positives detected by current tests, thanks to new groundbreaking research.
B.C. researchers have now found a way to detect a type of precursor protein in the spinal fluid, which could lead to quicker and more effective diagnostic tests, and provide pharmaceutical companies a more reliable way to determine if drug treatments are effective.
"You want to be able to definitively diagnose people entering human drug trials and then be able to follow the impact of the treatment on the biomarker," explained Neil Cashman, lead researcher on the project.
During the onset of Alzheimer’s, a specific type of protein called aggregated beta amyloid begins to clump up within the spinal fluid. These proteins are a precursor to the toxic plaques that kill brain cells and lead to problems with brain function and memory in Alzheimer’s sufferers. Previously, the presence of the beta proteins could only be confirmed through brain biopsy after death.
Next, the research team will begin comparing test results from the spinal fluid of Alzheimer’s sufferers with those of healthy individuals.