[ad_1]
Scientists have developed a new blood test that they say predicts Alzheimer's disease well before infection, up to 16 years.
According to the study published in the journal Nature Medicine, this test depends on measuring the rate of a specific protein in the blood called NfL. high Its levels are an early sign of the disease.
Increasing protein levels means an increase in brain damage, or a sign of increased damaged nerve cells in the brain, said Matthias Jaker, head of the research team, professor of Cell Biology at Neurology at the German Center for Neurology.
Jaker and his team measured the protein levels of 405 patients from different parts of the world by taking blood samples, performing brain tests and undergoing cognitive tests.
The test was conducted every two and a half years for seven years.
The team discovered that 243 genetic mutations at the origin of the disease had high levels of this protein compared to another control group.
Through brain imaging and cognitive testing, scientists have also seen a decrease in cognitive abilities and a decrease in the brain.
Although there is currently no effective treatment for the disease, the world believes that this test will help to know the effectiveness of treatments before symptoms, indicating that the person may become ill before the onset of symptoms within 10 years or 20 years.
According to US Department of Health figures, five million Americans are infected with Alzheimer's disease.
Source link
