Alzheimer’s Disease :: Diagnosis before onset of Alzheimer’s disease

Proteins found in the blood can indicate an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease, according to groundbreaking new research published today (30 October) in the journal Brain. It is the first time markers for the development of Alzheimer’s have been identified in blood. The findings take researchers a step closer to knowing whether a blood test can be used to diagnose and measure progression of the Alzheimer’s disease.

There is no cure, long-term treatment or prevention for Alzheimer’s disease. It is currently diagnosed using methods including memory tests and brain scans, but a definitive diagnosis can only be given at post mortem.

This five-year project based at the Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London, and funded by the Alzheimer’s Research Trust, used a cutting-edge process known as proteomics to identify proteins increased in the blood of Alzheimer’s patients but not in a control group of healthy older people. Two of these proteins were confirmed as markers for the disease through blood tests carried out on 500 Alzheimer’s patients in the UK.

Lead researcher Simon Lovestone, Professor of Old Age Psychiatry at the Institute of Psychiatry, said, ‘This is certainly an exciting development in the battle against Alzheimer’s. It is a devastating disease and we currently have problems diagnosing it and measuring its progression in patients. We need to find new methods of diagnosing Alzheimer’s early to help get treatments to patients when they might most benefit. Further research is now needed to establish if a simple, accurate blood test for Alzheimer’s can become a reality.’

Rebecca Wood, Chief Executive of the Alzheimer’s Research Trust, added, ‘We are delighted to be funding what could be a breakthrough study in the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s. The Alzheimer’s Research Trust is committed to furthering our understanding of the disease and improving the quality of life for the 750,000 people affected by dementia in the UK, a figure that will double in the next 20 years. World-class research such as this will move us further toward that goal. The Government also needs to make Alzheimer’s funding a priority so that we can continue to push through the urgent research that is needed.’

Proteomics refers to the analysis of proteins and was used by researchers to measure proteins that change during the development of Alzheimer’s. The research was carried out in collaboration with Proteome Sciences plc, to identify the biomarkers in blood.

The Alzheimer’s Research Trust is the leading UK research charity for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, it is dedicated to funding and encouraging the very best UK-led research. With no government funding, the Alzheimer’s Research Trust relies on public donations to fund its research.

The study was part-funded by the European Commission through the InnoMed Project.

Proteome Sciences plc, a global leader in applied proteomics, has its UK laboratory at the Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London.

Institute of Psychiatry
The Institute of Psychiatry is part of King’s College London and closely affiliated to the South London and Maudsley NHS Trust. The Institute is a world-renowned centre for treatment, research and training in psychiatry and mental health. The organisation is involved in pioneering new and improved ways of understanding and treating mental illness and brain disease. Its wide-ranging field of work includes depression, trauma, eating disorders, brain imaging, genetics and psychosis.

King’s College London
King’s College London is the fourth oldest university in England with more than 13,700 undergraduates and nearly 5,600 graduate students in nine schools of study based at five London campuses. It is a member of the Russell Group: a coalition of the UK’s major research-based universities. The College has had 24 of its subject-areas awarded the highest rating of 5* and 5 for research quality, demonstrating excellence at an international level, and it has recently received an excellent result in its audit by the Quality Assurance Agency.

King’s has a particularly distinguished reputation in the humanities, law, international relations, medicine, nursing and the sciences, and has played a major role in many of the advances that have shaped modern life, such as the discovery of the structure of DNA. It is the largest centre for the education of healthcare professionals in Europe and is home to four Medical Research Council Centres ? more than any other university.

King’s is in the top group of UK universities for research earnings, with income from grants and contracts of more than ?100 million, and has an annual turnover of more than ?363 million.


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