The saliva samples were analyzed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry to determine which substances were prevalent in the saliva of each of the three types of people. Experts regarded the saliva test as having real potential and deemed it potentially reliable but pointed out that the experiment needed a lot more research.
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The team then discovered specific biomarkers (or patterns of metabolites) in the groups with known Alzheimer’s or mild cognitive impairment, in comparison with the natural aging group, and tested the biomarkers as predictors of cognitive performance.
Another study presented at the AAIC revealed that cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) has shown promise for predicting the decline from MCI to Alzheimer’s. Finally, a small but intriguing study suggests it could be possible to detect Alzheimer’s-like changes in saliva, which is easily obtained, safe and affordable, but there is a lot of work still to be done.
Researchers are also due to show attendees the results from trials Solanezumab – believed to be the first drug to halt the progression of the disease if a patient is diagnosed early enough.
“It is extremely preliminary”, said Dr. Dean Sherzai, director of the Alzheimer’s Disease Prevention Program at Cedars-Sinai.
“In science, the key is replication”, Sherzai added. However, many diagnosis techniques can be costly or invasive. It’s especially exciting for Sherzai since it could be used in clinic, or even community, settings.
“Understanding this relationship in early adulthood may be particularly important because global data suggests that levels of physical inactivity and sedentary behavior are increasing”, said Tina Hoang, MSPH, of the Northern California Institute of Research and Education (NCIRE), San Francisco, with her mentor, Kristine Yaffe, MD, of the University of California, San Francisco. It is predicted that by 2050, around 13.5 million Americans will have the condition.
Alzheimer’s disease is a debilitating illness that is the leading cause of dementia. This substance may help doctors find out if a person has Alzheimer’s, without waiting for the memory loss symptoms to appear. Our mission is to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research, to provide and enhance care and support for all affected, and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health.
Mild cognitive decline and the more progressive Alzheimer’s disease become increasingly inevitable for some people as they age.
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Establishing a link between exercise and the disease, another U.S. study of more than 3,200 adults aged 18 to 30 years over 25 years found participants who undertook only 150 minutes of medium intensity exercise per week, or watched more than four hours of TV a day, performed significantly worse in cognitive tests when they hit middle age.
