A better way of detecting Alzheimer's
(stop it in its tracks)
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Scientists in Manchester have made a breakthrough which could predict if people will develop Alzheimer's disease before their symptoms appear.
Researchers at the University of Manchester have discovered they can work out if someone is likely to develop the condition at an earlier stage than ever before – by measuring their brain activity.
They hope their work will improve clinical trials to find new treatments for the disease.
Led by Prof Karl Herholz, they studied 44 healthy people, 40 people with Alzheimer's and 94 people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) – mild memory problems.
Many people with MCI experience difficulties with their thinking but not to an extent that interferes with daily life. Some go on to develop Alzheimer's.
The scientists carried out cognitive tests and sophisticated brain scans on participants, measuring their glucose metabolism – a marker of brain activity.
They found that in people with MCI, scans taken at the start of the study showed greater impairment in those who went on to develop Alzheimer's than in those who didn't.
They also discovered that scans were better for predicting who would develop the condition than cognitive tests, and could detect changes in brain function over a shorter time period.
It is hoped that the study will improve clinical trials by allowing researchers to test new treatments earlier, when they are likely to be more effective. Continue to read: menmedia.co.uk
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