Researchers were able to come up with a new blood test type that is capable of tracing a vital toxin in the Azlheier's even years before the patient exhibits symptoms, including confusion and memory lapses.
According to Science Alert, if this concept can be scaled and tested further, it may facilitate the diagnostic process and enable several million Alzheimer's patients to gain answers as well as access to proper health care even before the progression of the condition.
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Alzheimer's Seeds Present Years Before Symptoms Arise
The University of Washington notes how Alzheimer's seeds get planted years or even decades before the cognitive decline. However, several patients only get diagnosed when they start showing telltale signs of the condition. At this point, the best option they have for treatment is to hamper the symptom progression. In the course of time, with a procedure that experts are still trying to grasp, toxin oligomers of the amyloid beta are perceived to develop in the condition.
Lab Test "SOBA" To Examine Amyloid Beta Oligomer Levels in Blood Samples
A team from the University of Washington conducted a study published in PNAS to understand how this works. They came up with a lab test to gauge amyloid beta oligomer levels within samples of blood. The acronym for this test is SOBA or soluble oligomer binding assay.
According to their study, the test is capable of tracing oligomers in the bloodstream of those who have the conditions. However, this was not the case in most members within a particular control group that did not display cognitive decline signs during the time these samples were taken.
However, their test was able to trace oligomers in the bloodstream of 11 participants that were part of the control group. Follow-up examinations were conducted with 10 of these participants. All of them got a mild cognitive development or brain pathology diagnosis that aligned with that of Alzheimer's.
In essence, the test was able to trace these toxins even before hallmark Alzheimer's symptoms started showing up.
According to senior author and UW professor Valerie Daggett, both researchers and clinicians want an Alzheimer's diagnostic test that is reliable. Moreover, they want one that does not just diagnose the condition but can also pick up hints of the disease prior to symptom exhibition. Daggett notes how this is important for the health of individuals and for research endeavors to see how oligomer toxins of the amyloid beta process and lead to grave damage.
While the details are still being figured out, the hypothesis has enabled the research to come up with SOBA.
Science Alert also notes how SOBA goes beyond the condition because Alzheimer's is not the sole condition that has oligomer toxins as hallmarks. These proteins that misfold have also been seen to be linked to Type II diabetes, Parkinson's disease, and Lewy body dementia.
In the clinical setting, clinicians only use blood tests that gauge genes that are linked to Alzheimer's. However, such tests are not sufficient in predicting who will eventually end up with the condition.
With the SOBA test and its outstanding functions, things could soon change.
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