Test for 10
proteins predicts onset of disease over 12 months in those with mild memory
loss with 87% accuracy
The Guardian, Sarah Boseley, health editor, Tuesday 8 July 2014
 |
| A brain scan of a patient suffering with Alzheimer's disease. The darker areas show a reduction of function and blood flow. Photograph: Alamy |
A blood
test to detect which people with failing memories will go on to develop
Alzheimer's disease has been developed by British scientists, who hope it may prove
a breakthrough in the hunt for a cure.
After a
decade's work, an international collaboration led by scientists from King's College London, with the UK company Proteome Sciences, has published a study
identifying a set of 10 proteins in the blood. The test can predict the onset
of Alzheimer's in the next 12 months in people with memory problems with an
accuracy of 87%. It could cost £100-£300 and be available within two years.
Alzheimer's
and other forms of dementia are distressing and a huge burden on those
affected, their families and the NHS. But despite the growing problem as people
live longer, there are no good long-term treatments and there is no cure. David
Cameron recently announced a drive to discover new drugs for dementia, which he
said "stands alongside cancer as one of the greatest enemies of humanity".
Many trials
have ended in failure. As one potential drug after another has fallen by the
wayside, scientists have begun to look for ways to treat people at a much
earlier stage, when their brain is not so badly damaged. But to do that, they
need a test to predict who is going to develop the disease.
A number of
research groups have been trying to develop tests. Scientists in the US published details in March of a proposed test for lipids (fatty chemicals) in
the blood of people in the general population, who do not have memory problems.
Such a screening test would be controversial, however: few healthy people want
to know they may be in line for an incurable disease that can be neither
prevented nor treated.
The new
test is aimed at people with the kind of memory loss called mild cognitive
impairment, 60% of whom will go on to develop dementia. Those are the people
scientists now want to recruit into trials to prevent, or at least delay, the
onset of Alzheimer's.
"Alzheimer's
begins to affect the brain many years before patients are diagnosed with the
disease," said Professor Simon Lovestone from King's College. "Many
of our drug trials fail because by the time patients are given the drugs, the
brain has already been too severely affected.
"A
simple blood test could help us identify patients at a much earlier stage to
take part in new trials and hopefully develop treatments which could prevent
the progression of the disease."
The
researchers investigated 26 proteins which have all been linked to Alzheimer's
in the past. Writing in the journal Alzheimer's & Dementia, they say they
took blood samples from 1,148 individuals, of whom 476 had Alzheimer's disease,
220 had mild cognitive impairment and 452 were elderly but without dementia.
They found
that 16 of the proteins were associated with brain shrinkage either in mild
cognitive impairment or Alzheimer's.
In a second
set of tests, they identified 10 proteins whose presence could predict, with a
reasonable degree of accuracy, whether people with mild cognitive impairment
would develop Alzheimer's within a year.
Larger
trials involving 5,000 to 10,000 people are still needed, say the scientists.
"The next step will be to validate our findings in further sample sets, to
see if we can improve accuracy and reduce the risk of misdiagnosis, and to
develop a reliable test suitable to be used by doctors," said Lovestone.
Other
scientists were enthusiastic about the potential for the test to aid drug
discovery, but cautious about its potential use for diagnosing the disease in
otherwise healthy people.
Dr Eric
Karran, science director at the charity Alzheimer's Research UK, which helped
fund the research, said a test identifying those at risk of Alzheimer's at an
early stage would be of "real value", but warned that it would have
to be used responsibly.
"Alzheimer's
disease is now the most feared diagnosis," he said. "We have to be
very careful about how we use these tests, especially in the absence of
effective therapy."
Dr James
Pickett, head of research at the Alzheimer's Society, said: "Finding a way
to detect dementia before symptoms develop would revolutionise research into
the condition … However, this research does not mean that a blood test for
dementia is just around the corner.
"These
10 proteins can predict conversion to dementia with less than 90% accuracy,
meaning one in 10 people would get an incorrect result. Therefore, accuracy
would need to be improved before it could be a useful diagnostic test.
"Only
through further research will we find answers to the biggest questions around
dementia, so we will watch the progress of this study with interest."
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Question: Dearest Kryon: I've read the question and answer on people with diseases of the mind - for example, Alzheimers and dementia. But I have more questions. You say that people have chosen this path and that the lessons are for us. As I work with these people, I'm wondering if there is any stage where there could be a reversal of the condition, and if so, with what methods? The people in the hostel are so drugged up, and there's a mind-set with the authorities that no "alternate" therapies work - although they're using colored lights. (Sadly, the diversional therapist told me she doesn't know what color therapy is.)
From a spiritual point of view, what is the best way to work with these people - talk to them as though they were normal, or go along with their imaginings? I've been told that they need to be kept quiet, especially toward evening. However, I've found that with one woman who mostly paces saying very little, the more childlike I am (dancing and singing makes her happy), the more she talks. I could go on and on - could you please enlighten me further?
Answer: I will answer the second part first. Love those who are in this condition. Find out what makes them smile... and then make them smile. The best you can do in a facilitation of this condition is to somehow create joy. Even in their confusion they can laugh at situations and be creative. They'll also remember you better as the one who creates this emotion. Each is very different, but in general, try to find their "happy" button and push it as often as you can. They will remember that.
Right now you're perched upon some important discoveries that will be able to reverse these conditions to a large degree. But just as the paraplegic who regains their nerve connections must than relearn how to walk, suffering much pain, there will be this attribute with a regeneration of the mind. Even if new cells are created, they won't necessarily have the old memories, but they can be trained to be healthy and be ready for new memories.
So someday these will have the ability to halt the progress of the degeneration of cells that are being taken, and instead grow new pathways around them. Some will be able to "reconnect" to certain kinds of memories (like recognition) but will have to relearn what the association of recognition actually means. So history and events might have to be studied and relearned... sometimes even things like reading, also. The pain will be that the individual will regain mental health and will realize exactly what has happened.
Your stem-cell research is very important, and you're reaching a point where you'll be able to use birth cells that aren't embryonic, but every bit as potent for research... thereby sidestepping all moral issues. Look for this in the next few years.
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