Early Alzheimer's diagnosis by new procedure

Alzheimer already recognizable ten years before outbreak by new procedure

26.04.2012

A research group led by the Leipzig nuclear medicine Osama Sabri succeeded in developing a special tomography for the early detection of Alzheimer's disease. The new method could reveal the Alzheimer's typical protein deposits in the brain up to ten years before the onset of the disease. However, the German Alzheimer's Society does not see much benefit for patients in the new procedure unless effective therapies exist. Because treatment approaches such as the development of an inhibitor are still scientific future music.

Protein deposits in the brain of Alzheimer's disease present long before the onset of the disease
In Germany, around 700,000 people suffer „Alzheimer“. According to experts, the number could double by 2050. The degenerative disease begins with easy forgetfulness and develops to pronounced dementia.

At the 50th Annual Meeting of the German Society for Nuclear Medicine in Bremen, two substances will now be presented that can visualize the changes in the brain of Alzheimer's patients already ten years before the onset of the first symptoms. Nuclear medicine scientist Osama Sabri and his team are using a special tomography, positron emission tomography. The typical Alzheimer protein deposits, so-called beta-amyloid plaques, develop at least ten years before the first memory disorders, says Sabri. To make these visible, the researchers use new low-radiation substances, the radiopharmaceuticals, in tomography. Sabri reports that the product of a pharmaceutical company has already been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. In addition, one of the Leipzig researchers with developed markers most likely come on the market this year.

Efficacy of drugs against Alzheimer's with a new method verifiable
„This is a significant improvement in diagnostics“, Sabri explains. On the one hand, a possible disease can be detected earlier and, on the other, it can be differentiated from other forms of dementia. A study is currently underway for a second substance involving 20 patients with early-stage Alzheimer's disease. The marker is intended to detect a disorder of certain receptors in the brain, which cause soluble precursors of protein deposits. Up to now, this has only been possible with elaborate measurements, explains Sabri. The new process improves image quality and also shortens tube life. In addition, the effectiveness of Alzheimer's medication can be reviewed. „The new procedures improve patient care“, says the director of the Clinic and Polyclinic for Nuclear Medicine of the University of Leipzig. But that's only the beginning, because there is still no successful treatment for Alzheimer's.

So far, no successful therapy for Alzheimer's
Although the German Alzheimer's Association regards the new procedure for the early detection of Alzheimer's as scientifically interesting, it is not very useful for those affected. „However, this will not help the patients today unless therapy is available“, explains Hans-Jürgen Freter, spokesman for the company. „One certainly can not say whether the disease breaks out at the age of 70, 80 or 90 years.“ In addition, protein deposits in the brain also occur in people who never had Alzheimer's disease. The existing diagnostic procedures would be used too rarely, according to Freter. These include, for example, psychological tests and computed tomography. These methods are sufficient if used. Patients should go to the doctor as early as possible to take the complaints seriously and initiate appropriate diagnostic procedures. Drugs can delay the progression of the disease by about a year, reports Freter.

Not every dementia is not Alzheimer's
Alzheimer's patients suffer from dementia, but not everyone affected by dementia suffers from it „Alzheimer's disease“. In order to find out the type of dementia that afflicts a person affected by the disease, physicians also have access to neuropsychological tests as well as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which can be used to detect deposits of Alzheimer's in the brain.

For proper and appropriate therapy and care, it is imperative to differentiate Alzheimer's from other disorders with overlapping symptoms. These include brain tumors and injuries, age-related forgetfulness, depression in the elderly, autism, disorders of the metabolism (low blood sugar) in diabetics, simple aphasia and psychosis. Experts believe that the biggest risk factor for Alzheimer's is age. Not least because of this, a drastic increase in Alzheimer's is expected in the future. (Ag)

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Picture: Gerd Altmann