Washington, July 21 (ANI): Scientists have discovered that inherited forms of Alzheimer's disease may be detected as early as 20 years before problems with memory and thinking develop.
They say the results demonstrate the feasibility of clinical trials to prevent Alzheimer's in patients who are at risk.
Researchers of Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer's Network (DIAN), an international study of inherited forms of Alzheimer's, are studying members of families who have mutations in one of three genes: amyloid precursor protein, presenilin 1 or presenilin 2.
Participants with these mutations are certain to develop Alzheimer's disease early, with symptoms beginning in their 50s, 40s, or, in some rare cases, 30s.
By looking at the age of symptom onset in a parent who passed an Alzheimer's mutation to a DIAN participant, scientists can establish an estimated age of onset for a study participant.
If a parent developed dementia at the age of 50, they would expect a child who inherited the mutation to develop dementia at roughly the same age.
"Based on what we see in our population, brain chemistry changes can be detected up to 20 years before the expected age of symptomatic onset," said Randall Bateman, an associate director of DIAN.
"These Alzheimer's-related changes can be specifically targeted for prevention trials in patients with inherited forms of Alzheimer's," he added.
The study was reported at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference in Paris, July 20. (ANI)
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