Early detection of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD)

You can’t cure something until you know it’s there. Currently, there’s no cure for AD. Doctors hope earlier diagnosis may lead to better understanding of how the disease inexorably progresses, which in turn may lead to prevention of AD and ultimately eradication of this horrific scourge. The latest breakthroughs have involved a blood test, an eye exam and a brain MRI.

AD blood test:

In 2023, Swedish researchers reported on a blood test which might provide an early warning for AD.  The scientists followed 233 patients for about a decade and discovered a relationship between a specific type of glycan and AD. 

Glycans are sugar chains which may bind to proteins and affect their function (by changing their shape). Some alterations of such proteins may result in autoimmune reactions and inflammation. 

In this cohort, an abnormally high level of glycan in the blood predicted the future development of AD. This same glycan may also be present in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). However, testing for glycan in the CSF requires a lumbar tap (a needle puncture of the spinal canal). 

AD Eye exam:

They say that the eyes are the window to your soul. In 2020, Californian researchers reported that your eyes, specifically the retina (the back of your eye), may reveal whether you are at risk for developing Alzheimer's disease. The scientists searched for telltale signs using retinal amyloid imaging. 

AD MRI:

In 2021, Texan researchers developed an MRI that is so powerful that it can display what is going on inside of cells (as if it were a microscope). MRI strength is measured in Tesla (like the car). The  typical MRI (which your doctor might order) is between 1.5 and 3 Tesla. Everything is bigger in Texas, so the scientists used a 7 Tesla machine. The scientists using the new MRI can detect sub-cellular changes in the brains of people with early AD. Even before any symptoms have manifested, the doctors reported malfunctioning mitochondria (a part of the cell that generates energy) in the neurons (brain cells) of Alzheimer's patients.

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