Recent research has unveiled an innovative and promising method for early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) by examining AD biomarkers present in blood. This approach aims to lessen the effects of dementia.
According to the World Health Organization, Alzheimer’s disease is the most prevalent form of dementia, responsible for about 60-70 percent of cases, equating to over 33 million individuals worldwide. Currently, there is no cure for AD, which is typically identified when someone experiences considerable memory and cognitive problems that interfere with their daily activities.
Dr. Brandon Mahan from the University of Melbourne is leading a team of analytical geochemists within the Faculty of Science. They are working alongside neuroscientists from the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry, and Health Sciences (affiliated with The Florey) to create a blood test that would allow for earlier detection of AD, as detailed in a study published in Metallomics.
In a groundbreaking initiative, the researchers employed inorganic analytical geochemistry techniques, which were initially developed for cosmochemistry—used to explore the formation and development of Earth, the Moon, and other celestial bodies—and adjusted these highly precise methods to find early biomarkers for AD in human blood serum.
They analyzed potassium isotope levels in blood serum from 20 samples, comprised of 10 healthy individuals and 10 AD patients, drawn from the Australian Imaging, Biomarker and Lifestyle study and biobank.
“Our minimally invasive test evaluates the relative amounts of potassium isotopes in human blood serum and indicates potential for diagnosing AD prior to any noticeable cognitive decline or other symptoms, enabling proactive measures to mitigate its effects,” Dr. Mahan explained.
“This test is scalable and unlike protein-based diagnostic methods that may degrade during storage, it circumvents sample stability challenges by focusing on an inorganic biomarker.”
Presently, the clinical diagnosis of AD relies on a combination of medical history, neurological evaluations, cognitive, functional, and behavioral assessments, brain imaging techniques, and the analysis of cerebrospinal fluid or blood samples for proteins.
“Diagnosing the disease earlier would allow for timely lifestyle adjustments and medications that could slow progression. It would also provide affected families with more time to address the social, emotional, and financial challenges posed by dementia,” Dr. Mahan added. “Moreover, it could allow patients to qualify for a broader range of clinical trials, fostering research and potentially offering additional medical advantages.”
Dr. Ashley Bush, co-author from The Florey, expresses optimism about the findings from this small preliminary study.
“Our blood test effectively detected Alzheimer’s disease and demonstrates diagnostic capabilities that may compete with leading blood tests currently utilized in clinical practice,” Professor Bush stated. “However, significant further investigation is needed to assess the full potential of this promising technique.”
As the global population ages, the prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease is escalating. It is projected that the number of individuals with dementia will double every two decades, with the worldwide financial burden of dementia anticipated to soar to US$2.8 trillion by 2030. By 2024, over 421,000 Australians are expected to be living with dementia. It is the second leading cause of death in the country and the foremost cause among Australian women.
