The estimated 7.4 million adults in the U.S. who have Alzheimer’s disease face a difficult set of challenges as the neurodegenerative illness chips away at memory and physical function over time. Researchers around the world are searching for insight into symptoms and treatments.

treatment effectiveness

A new study from Washington University School of Medicine has insights into monitoring the effects of lecanemab, a drug that targets the build up of amyloid protein in the brain. The treatment cannot cure Alzheimer’s or restore cognitive function to normal, but it does slow the progression of the disease. However, there was no way to monitor the drug’s effect without expensive brain scans. The research team identified dozens of blood proteins that change during treatment, determining that these biomarkers can be used to show brain health. “It would be very helpful to have a blood test that told us how the treatment was working in an individual patient, especially whether amyloid is being cleared from the brain and how the brain is changing,” says co-senior author Suzanne Schindler, M.D., Ph.D., a professor of neurology.

improving blood tests

Research in Germany may lead to improvements in the reliability of blood tests for Alzheimer’s. Currently, commercial tests use the tau protein known as p-tau217 as an indicator, but it can also be elevated by muscle and nerve disorders, leading to false positives. A study from University Medicine Halle has demonstrated a way to improve accuracy in diagnosing Alzheimer’s by isolating brain-derived tau from other forms of the protein, adding a second step to the process. The team compared the two-step method with a conventional test, using samples for patients with Alzheimer’s, patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and a control group. The conventional test identified tau in both the Alzheimer’s and ALS groups while the new step was able to distinguish between the two diseases.

tech advances

The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology has demonstrated the effectiveness of wireless monitoring for real-time changes in memory after Alzheimer’s treatment has been administered. Using miniature pig models, the research team was able to use a small implantable neural chip to observe neurotransmitters in the brain, noting an increase and gradual return to baseline following administration of the drug donepezil. The technology could lead to greater insights into how the brain reacts to drugs and the development of new ways to adapt to that response.

understanding resistance

Scientists in the Netherlands have new insights into why some brains are seemingly more resistant to Alzheimer’s. Some people have the brain changes associated with the disease, but they never develop dementia. A study from the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience suggests cognitive resilience may be related to adult neurogenesis. The term refers to the production of new nerve cells in an adult brain. It occurs in several animal species, including humans. The researchers found immature neurons were present in adults 80 and older, including those with dementia. The difference between patients with cognitive resilience was the behavior of immature neurons, which signaled less inflammation and cell death. More research is needed to determine the exact role these immature neurons play in cognitive health.

Sources: WashU Medicine, Technology Networks, Science Daily, Medical Xpress