Study identifies protein in the blood that may predict Alzheimer's

If they can be detected, they may consequently be a sign that the person has a ‘preclinical’ case of Alzheimer’s disease.To test this, the authors analyzed the brain scans and blood samples from 34 people: 19 with no amyloid in their brains, five with amyloid but with no cognitive symptoms, and ten with amyloid and cognitive symptoms.The authors found that a particular type of tau protein — phosphorylated tau 217 — correlated with the amount of amyloid proteins in a person’s brain. and Joanne Knight Distinguished Professor of Neurology at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, and senior author of the study, “[t]he finding of a unique tau species closely linked to changes caused by amyloid plaques will help identify and predict people who have or will likely develop Alzheimer’s disease.”“This will greatly accelerate research studies, including finding new treatments, and improving diagnosis in the clinic with a simple blood test.”The authors then repeated their test with a new group of 90 participants, 42 who did not have amyloid in their brains, 20 who had amyloid but no cognitive symptoms, and 30 who had amyloid and cognitive symptoms.Again, there was a clear correlation between the phosphorylated tau protein in the blood and amyloid protein in the brain.