Biomarkers discovered to predict dementia risk using blood test 15 years before diagnosis

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Research published in the journal Natural aging identified biomarkers that could predict early diagnosis of dementia up to 15 years before diagnosis by blood test.

Researchers have examined blood samples from 52,645 adults without dementia at study entry, all were UK Biobank participants. During 14 years of follow-up, 1,417 of these people developed dementia.

Some participants who developed dementia had levels of these proteins in their blood that were outside the normal range.

This study was able to establish a correlation between high levels of four specific proteins (GFAP, NEFL, GDF15 and LTBP2) with a strong increase in the risk of developing dementia after analyze 1463 blood proteins in blood samples more than 50,000 people. In some participants who developed dementia, the association found that blood levels of these proteins were outside the normal range more than a decade before the disease was formally diagnosed.

The GFAP protein provides structural support to nerve cells called astrocytes and, after analysis in previous studies, has already been proposed as a biomarker for diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease. This happens similarly with the GDF15 protein.

According to the World Health Organization, more than 55 million people worldwide live with dementia.

Currently more 55 million people living with dementia worldwide, according to World Health Organization (WHO). People are often diagnosed with dementia in the later stages of the disease. When they notice memory problems or other symptoms, the options for effective therapeutic intervention are limited.

The study authors used machine learning to develop prediction algorithms that combine levels of the four identified markers with demographic variables such as age, gender, education and family history. The model was able to predict the incidence of three subtypes of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, with an accuracy of about 90%, using data collected more than a decade before the official diagnosis.

“The results could be used to develop blood tests that can identify people at risk of developing dementia even more than 10 years before diagnosis.”

In summary, the authors said that by examining 1,463 proteins, they found that elevated levels of GFAP, NEFL, GDF15 and LTBP2 were associated with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Some participants who developed dementia had levels of these proteins in their blood outside the normal range more than a decade before the onset of symptoms.

The study authors stated that “The findings could be used to develop blood tests that can identify people at risk of developing dementia, even more than 10 years before diagnosis.” Although the results are promising, it is important to emphasize that the new biomarkers require further validation before they can be used as clinical screening tools.