Does a blood test bring breakthrough?

Early detection could be much easier

Researchers still do not hear about the factors that lead to Alzheimer's disease. However, a blood test could provide in the near future information on the risk of a person's illness, several years in advance. But why would you want to know that? After all, the disease has so far been considered incurable. The answers will be given by a specialist and a family member in the video.

Blood tests not only reduce costs, but also support

The blood test, which has now been presented by US researchers in the journal "Neurology", is not the first foray into the early detection of Alzheimer's disease: German scientists have been working for some time to a very similar method. Both approaches are based on the observation that, in the case of affected patients, a certain amount of protein in the brain forms mbades and can thus destroy the nerve cells. Thus, the functional capacity decreases more and more and there are typical symptoms, including memory weakness, mental confusion and marked mood swings.

Until now, brain scans or the study of spinal nerve water were the only way to detect the excessive presence of the protein called amyloid. Both are not only badociated with high costs, but also for very uncomfortable patients. With the blood test, protein clots could be followed up as soon as possible without much effort.

"You can not offer anything to patients"

But until further notice, the new method is only important for research when it comes to "testing and drug efficacy," says Prof. Dr. med. Notger Müller, head of the working group of the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases in Leipzig. "In clinical routine, the tests will have no importance in the foreseeable future: first, because they are not hundred percent accurate, and more importantly, because you can not offer the patient a therapy that would heal. "

In the video: Dementia – what is it?

Reduce the risk of Alzheimer's – with dancing

You can not directly prevent Alzheimer's dementia, but with a healthy lifestyle, this can be mitigated. A balanced diet, regular exercises and "brain sports" are the most important pillars – and ideally all at the same time. Teacher. Dr. Müller explains: "If possible, you should combine different activities: do not just play sports, do not solve crosswords, but many things at the same time."

Dance is an appropriate but also fun method: "When you learn new steps, you have to do both: move and think, and you also have a social and emotional component, which is why we believe such activities are particularly important. appropriate. reduce the risk of dementia, "says the specialist.