Blood test for Alzheimer’s

[bmcgonig]

There’s now a blood test for Alzheimer’s. An interesting part of this story is that they proved that the test was modifiable with certain diet and exercise changes.

The Breakthrough Blood Test for Alzheimer's Disease

The p-Tau217 Biomarker for Prediction and Prevention

erictopol.substack.com

“The p-tau217 predicted with nearly 100% certainty whether or not the trial participants had Alzheimer’s disease pathology in their brains.”

“The p-Tau217 biomarker is one of the most exciting advances in neurology for decades, giving us a new opportunity to accurately predict and potentially prevent (or at least substantially delay) MCI and Alzheimer’s. That it rises so early in the course of the disease—which incubates over 20 years—gives us a long runway of opportunity to intervene, be it with lifestyle factors or drugs. “

 

[audreyh1]

I only saw exercise mentioned as a modifier in the main part of the article.

Thanks for the article.

 

[Koolau]

Very interesting. I hope we can find more info on prevention - not just exercise though exercise seems to be important for most of good health.

 

[Healthy Lifestyle]

Rather not know

 

[Koolau]

Rather not know

I have felt the same way since my PCP said there was a test which could let me know if I were a "candidate" (my words) for Alz Dis. I didn't want to know. BUT if there is a potential "treatment" or preventive measures I could empl*y. I think I'd be all in on it. YMMV

 

[reneeh63]

I believe that I would want to know but what are the implications for something like LTCi with such an accurate test out there?

 

[Koolau]

I believe that I would want to know but what are the implications for something like LTCi with such an accurate test out there?

Probably should take care of such things before the test.

 

[HawkOwl]

Probably should take care of such things before the test.

I doubt that long term care institutions would give you the option.

 

[Sojourner]

Given the recent announcement of a study that found people who received the shingles vaccine are 20% less likely to develop Alzheimer's than their unvaccinated peers, I wonder if one could infer that folks without the p-Tau217 biomarker and who have been vaccinated against shingles are almost certainly not going to develop AD. Probably not a valid inference, but would be interesting to know how the two interrelate (if at all).

Shingles vaccine and lower dementia risk

 

[marko]

I believe that I would want to know but what are the implications for something like LTCi with such an accurate test out there?

Certainly a double edged sword here.

 

[bmcgonig]

Given the recent announcement of a study that found people who received the shingles vaccine are 20% less likely to develop Alzheimer's than their unvaccinated peers, I wonder if one could infer that folks without the p-Tau217 biomarker and who have been vaccinated against shingles are almost certainly not going to develop AD. Probably not a valid inference, but would be interesting to know how the two interrelate (if at all).

Shingles vaccine and lower dementia risk

I think all this information together helps us try to avoid it. Get your shingles vax, exercise a lot etc. With regards to exercise one researcher I follow Rhonda Patrick, who happens to have two copies of the Apoe4 gene I believe, uses high intensity exercise as she believes it’s the best for brain health. Also there’s evidence now that creatine might help.

The INSANE Brain Benefits of High-Intensity Exercise | Martin Gibala

In this clip, Dr. Martin Gibala delves into the cognitive advantages of engaging in high-intensity exercise.

www.foundmyfitness.com

 

[aja8888]

My 45 Year old Son-In-Law's early Alzheimer's disease was confirmed through a spinal tap procedure.

Healthy guy, ex Marine, active in sports, no other health issues, we have no idea what happened.

 

[bmcgonig]

My 45 Year old Son-In-Law's early Alzheimer's disease was confirmed through a spinal tap procedure.

Healthy guy, ex Marine, active in sports, no other health issues, we have no idea what happened.

Did they happen to do any genetic testing?

 

[audreyh1]

My 45 Year old Son-In-Law's early Alzheimer's disease was confirmed through a spinal tap procedure.

Healthy guy, ex Marine, active in sports, no other health issues, we have no idea what happened.

I thought he had developed fluid not draining from the brain correctly which can cause brain damage/trauma which in turn can cause dementia?

 

[Amethyst]

My 45 Year old Son-In-Law's early Alzheimer's disease was confirmed through a spinal tap procedure.

Healthy guy, ex Marine, active in sports, no other health issues, we have no idea what happened.

I am very sorry for him, for his wife, and for his parents. All must be devastated, and it can't be easy for you either.

 

[aja8888]

I thought he had developed fluid not draining from the brain correctly which can cause brain damage/trauma which in turn can cause dementia?

Yes, he had Hydrocephalus for a few years but the doc's would not comment on whether or not that was a contributor. Lots of children (early age) and oldsters have Hydrocephalus and never get full blown Alzheimer's. He worked his job right up until the tide tuned quickly.

Actually, the doc's said that he may have been going into Alzheimer's for a few years previous to the shunt install. Funny thing is once his drainage problem was fixed, he was great and normal. It's not easy to figure out what was going on a few years ago as there were no indications.

 

[audreyh1]

Yes, he had Hydrocephalus for a few years but the doc's would not comment on whether or not that was a contributor. Lots of children (early age) and oldsters have Hydrocephalus and never get full blown Alzheimer's. He worked his job right up until the tide tuned quickly.

Thanks for the info.

 

[aja8888]

I am very sorry for him, for his wife, and for his parents. All must be devastated, and it can't be easy for you either.

Thanks, it has devastated my daughter and I am not feeling too good about where things are going for him in the future.

 

[audreyh1]

Thanks, it has devastated my daughter and I am not feeling too good about where things are going for him in the future.

I’m so sorry to hear that.

 

[Letj]

My 45 Year old Son-In-Law's early Alzheimer's disease was confirmed through a spinal tap procedure.

Healthy guy, ex Marine, active in sports, no other health issues, we have no idea what happened.

Could he have had a head injury? Maybe in the marines.

 

[Koolau]

I doubt that long term care institutions would give you the option.

I doubt LTC companies have yet required the test prior to policy sales. BUT if one has taken the test, they must disclose the results.

 

[aja8888]

Could he have had a head injury? Maybe in the marines.

No nothing like that is in his history..

 

[slowsaver]

I think all this information together helps us try to avoid it. Get your shingles vax, exercise a lot etc. With regards to exercise one researcher I follow Rhonda Patrick, who happens to have two copies of the Apoe4 gene I believe, uses high intensity exercise as she believes it’s the best for brain health. Also there’s evidence now that creatine might help.

The OP article shows a graph of "inactive" vs "Low" or "High" moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. The Low and High group were nearly identical in lowering their risk, while the inactive just got worse and worse over time.

I only mention it in-case there are people with physical injuries or health issues that make high intensity exercise impossible, or just can't stick with it. Even a "low" amount of physical activity benefits you (nearly just as much).

 

[WWDog]

Rather not know

You won't know which means it is a perpetual loop. Just enjoy life and get a laugh at the same joke for as long as you can!

 

[ERhoosier]

There’s now a blood test for Alzheimer’s. An interesting part of this story is that they proved that the test was modifiable with certain diet and exercise changes.

The Breakthrough Blood Test for Alzheimer's Disease

The p-Tau217 Biomarker for Prediction and Prevention

erictopol.substack.com

“The p-tau217 predicted with nearly 100% certainty whether or not the trial participants had Alzheimer’s disease pathology in their brains.”

“The p-Tau217 biomarker is one of the most exciting advances in neurology for decades, giving us a new opportunity to accurately predict and potentially prevent (or at least substantially delay) MCI and Alzheimer’s. That it rises so early in the course of the disease—which incubates over 20 years—gives us a long runway of opportunity to intervene, be it with lifestyle factors or drugs. “

I disagree that there is a true "blood test for Alzheimer's". The quotes above are from the linked article's author (FWIW a cardiologist, not a neuroscientist). These words are NOT from the researchers themselves in their paper here-

Plasma p-tau217 and tau-PET predict future cognitive decline among cognitively unimpaired individuals: implications for clinical trials - Nature Aging

Ossenkoppele, Salvado et al. show that plasma p-tau217 and tau-PET predict cognitive decline equally well among cognitively unimpaired individuals. Their combined use further boosts prognostic accuracy. A sequential approach can enhance precision and efficiency of preclinical Alzheimer trials.

www.nature.com

In reading the study itself I noticed these researchers did NOT study subjects' blood pTau217 levels and actual Alzheimer's "pathology in their brains". Other researchers have found a strong correlation with blood pTau217 (& other AZ blood markers) and AZ brain pathology (at autopsy), but that correlation was not 100%. Two links to such studies for those interested-

https://www.embopress.org/doi/full/10.15252/emmm.202217123

Optimal blood tau species for the detection of Alzheimer’s disease neuropathology: an immunoprecipitation mass spectrometry and autopsy study - Acta Neuropathologica

Plasma-to-autopsy studies are essential for validation of blood biomarkers and understanding their relation to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathology. Few such studies have been done on phosphorylated tau (p-tau) and those that exist have made limited or no comparison of the different p-tau...

link.springer.com

The real benefit of the research in the OP is the documentation of significant correlation of a blood marker (pTau217) with the results of the current best brain scan for helping diagnose Alzheimer's (tau-PET signal, a complex costly brain scan). They also found a similar association (not absolute certainty) of each with future cognitive decline (AZ) in unimpaired older folks over an ave. of 3.8 (not 20) years. Potentially a great tool for future AZ studies. But this article's author (in the Comments section) is NOT now recommending this blood test for unimpaired individuals without elevated AZ risk (like close blood relatives with AZ). I assume this is because the study results (data) show not all folks with elevated blood pTau217 go on to develop dementia (at least not within the study period). And that there is currently no proven preventive treatment anyway beyond healthy lifestyle measures like good diet and exercise....which we should all be doing anyway