Alzheimer’s signs can be spotted ten years before symptoms appear, says study

The research was published in the Archives of General Psychiatry and took place at Lund University, Sweden, involving 140 people with Mild Cognitive Impairment.

Spinal fluid was tested for levels of Alzheimer's proteins amyloid-beta and tau. It found that over 90 per cent of participants who had low levels of amyloid-beta and high levels of tau went on to develop Alzheimer's within a ten-year period. In contrast, those who had memory impairment but normal values for amyloid-beta and tau did not run a higher risk of getting the disease than healthy individuals. In addition, the study showed that changes in levels of amyloid-beta occur much earlier than changes in levels of tau.

Alzheimer's Society comment:

'This study adds weight to existing evidence that changes in amyloid-beta and tau could be used to identify people who are more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease. Spotting these signs early - through tests such as spinal taps - could help us improve the unacceptably low levels of early diagnosis that currently exist.'

'This research, which is the first of its kind to follow people for more than five years, provides a promising avenue for further investigation. However we need to back up these findings in much larger numbers of people. One in three people will die with dementia yet dementia research is drastically underfunded. We must invest now.'

Dr Anne Corbett
Research Manager
Alzheimer's Society

Research Reference: Oskar Hansson, MD, PhD, 'Cerebrospinal Fluid Levels of β-Amyloid 1-42, but Not of Tau, Are Fully Changed Already 5 to 10 Years Before the Onset of Alzheimer Dementia' published in the Archives of General Psychiatry, Vol. 69 No. 1, January 2012 archpsyc.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/short/69/1/98

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Notes to editors:

• One in three people over 65 will die with dementia
• Alzheimer's Society research shows that 750,000 people in the UK have a form of dementia, more than half have Alzheimer's disease. In just ten years a million people will be living with dementia. This will soar to 1.7 million people by 2051
• Alzheimer's Society champions the rights of people living with dementia and the millions of people who care for them
• Alzheimer's Society works in England, Wales and Northern Ireland
• Alzheimer's Society supports people to live well with dementia today and funds research to find a cure for tomorrow. We rely on voluntary donations to continue our vital work. You can donate now by calling 0845 306 0898 or visiting alzheimers.org.uk
  
• Alzheimer's Society provides a National Dementia Helpline, the number is 0845 300 0336 or visit alzheimers.org.uk
  
• Alzheimer's Society and Tesco have mapped the number of people with dementia in each part of the UK and the percentage who receive a diagnosis. To view the 'Mapping the Dementia Gap' study visit alzheimers-tesco.org.uk