Alzheimer's disease is one of the most prominent ailments facing older adults today, and has already been dubbed the defining disorder of the Baby Boomer generation. Characterized by extensive memory loss, this condition is at the forefront of practically every clinical discussion of long-term brain health. Researchers have made great strides in understanding the mechanisms behind Alzheimer's disease and we've learned considerably more about the lifestyle choices that may prevent or at least delay its onset. Now, a team of scientists believe they may have cracked the code for overall Alzheimer's risk.
According to reports, scientists from Georgetown University have discovered that a certain blood test may predict an individual's likelihood of developing this dementia. The researchers noted that no cure exists for Alzheimer's disease, in part because it can't be effectively identified before symptoms of cognitive decline develop. As such, they sought to find out if this condition could be spotted at an early stage by analyzing specific lipids in the blood.
Over the course of five years, the researchers conducted blood tests on 525 participants over the age of 70. They found a correlation between Alzheimer's disease and the presence of 10 distinct biomarkers.
"We discovered and validated a set of 10 lipids from peripheral blood that predicted phenoconversion to either amnestic mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer's disease within a two-three year timeframe with over 90 percent accuracy," the researchers wrote in a study abstract.
Further research is necessary to confirm this connection, but it could prove promising for millions of Americans who are concerned about memory support and long-term brain health. Click here to read information about our brain support supplements.