Alzheimer's can now be detected in early stages by looking at brain scans

Researchers at the University of California have found that brain scans can foretell if a person will suffer from Alzheimer's. They have proven that sticky amyloid plaques and tau protein tangles which are characteristic of the disease can be spotted and the moment they can trigger Alzheimer's.

Written By: Agencies | Published : March 3, 2016 10:33 AM IST

Scientists for long now have been trying to find a way to diagnose Alzheimer's disease early and have finally come up with a way to do it. Researchers at the University of California have found that brain scans can foretell if a person will suffer from Alzheimer's. They have proven that sticky amyloid plaques and tau protein tangles which are characteristic of the disease can be spotted and the moment they can trigger Alzheimer's. The scientists were also successful in tracking stages of Alzheimer's in adults who showed no symptoms. The findings suggest that people at risk like those who carry the APOE variant gene should be regularly screened and can also reassure people who have memory problems that they do not suffer from Alzheimer's. Here isdetailed explanationon10 early symptoms of Alzheimer s disease.

The study is a breakthrough especially because currently the only way to diagnose Alzheimer's is to look at brain scans once the patient in dead and for patients who are alive doctors only monitor cognitive and memory skills. This study will enable doctors to use as a diagnostic and staging tool. (Read:How cognitive therapy can help patients with Alzheimer s disease)

Currently there is no way to treat the disease but treatments will soon be available. And for the drugs to be effective, it is important to diagnose the disease in its early stages. Doctors currently look at brain scans to check if there is a decrease in brain cells and to confirm that the symptoms are not a result of some other condition. But,. this new brain imaging system involved Positron Emission Tomography scanners which help in observing changes that take place at cellular-level in organs and tissues. (Read:6 tips to prevent the onset of Alzheimer s)

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The new technology was tested on 53 adults, five of whom were young adults, 33 who were pensioners without any neurodegeneration and 15 who had suspected Alzheimer's disease. The scientists were able to prove definitively which were clear, at risk and those who had the condition. The findings also shed new light on how tau protein and amyloid plaques build up as the brain ages. For many years, the accumulation of amyloid plaques was considered the main culprit in Alzheimer's. But now the scientists believe that both tau and amyloid work together to cause the disease.The research was published in the journal Neuron. (Read: Natural remedies for Alzheimer s disease.)

The study--

The new technology was tested five young adults, 33 older adults with neurodegeneration and 15 others who were suspected of Alzheimer's. By looking at brain images the scientists could clearly pinpoint which participant was at risk of the disease. The findings can also help doctors observe how amyloid plaques and tau protein build up in the brain as one ages. The study was published in the journal Neuron. (Read:Natural remedies for Alzheimer s disease.)