Scientists have recently discovered a blood biomarker that may indicate the onset of dementia decades in advance.
A team of researchers from the National Institute on Aging, University of Texas, and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in the United States, along with various research institutions globally, studied data from 10,981 individuals collected over the past 25 years.
Abnormal levels of certain proteins linked to dementia risk. (Image: Walker et al., Science Translational Medicine, 2023).
They analyzed the protein profiles of these individuals and found that 32 blood proteins exhibiting abnormally high or low levels in people aged 45 to 60 serve as early indicators of future dementia risk.
This study does not yet delve into the reasons why such protein imbalances correlate with dementia risk, but the findings are invaluable for scientists to better assess dementia risks in older adults.
Interestingly, many of these proteins are not directly linked to brain function. This finding reinforces previous research suggesting that the onset of dementia and its underlying factors do not solely occur within the brain.
Some identified proteins are involved in regulating the protein system, which helps prevent the accumulation of proteins found in the brains of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease.
Other proteins play key roles in the immune system, indicating that there may be a mild immune response or impairment that increases the likelihood of developing dementia.
With this research, we may eventually be able to conduct blood tests to detect early signs of dementia risk. The earlier the disease is detected, the more effective treatment options become.
Looking ahead, one day we may fully understand how Alzheimer’s disease begins by monitoring imbalances in biomarkers through blood tests rather than solely relying on brain abnormalities.