There is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, but scientists are regularly exploring ways to treat the symptoms of the disease.
       Researchers are also working on early detection of dementia associated with Alzheimer’s disease, as early detection can help with treatment.
       A new study published in Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience suggests that uroformic acid could be a potential biomarker for the early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease.
       The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) describes dementia as “an impairment in memory, thinking, or decision-making that interferes with daily activities.”
        In addition to Alzheimer’s disease, there are other forms of dementia such as dementia with Lewy bodies and vascular dementia. But Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia.
        According to the Alzheimer’s Disease Association’s 2022 report, about 6.5 million people in the United States are living with the disease. In addition, researchers expect that number to double by 2050.
       In addition, people with advanced Alzheimer’s disease may have difficulty swallowing, speaking, and walking.
       Until the early 2000s, an autopsy was the only way to confirm if a person had Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia.
       According to the National Institute on Aging, doctors can now perform a lumbar puncture, also known as a lumbar puncture, to check for biomarkers associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
       Doctors look for biomarkers such as beta-amyloid 42 (a major component of amyloid plaques in the brain) and may look for abnormalities on a PET scan.
        “New imaging techniques, especially amyloid imaging, PET amyloid imaging, and tau PET imaging, allow us to see abnormalities in the brain while someone is alive,” said Michigan Public Health professor and physician Kenneth M., Dr. Langa. In Ann Arbor, who was not involved in the study, commented on a recent Michigan Medicine podcast.
       Several treatment options are available to help reduce the severity of asthma symptoms and slow the progression of the disease, although they cannot cure it.
        For example, a doctor may prescribe drugs such as donepezil or galantamine to reduce asthma symptoms. An investigational drug called lecanemab may also slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.
       Because testing for Alzheimer’s disease is expensive and may not be available to everyone, some researchers are prioritizing early screening.
       Researchers from Shanghai Jiao Tong University and the Wuxi Institute of Diagnostic Innovation in China jointly analyzed the role of formic acid as a biomarker for Alzheimer’s disease in urine.
        The scientists chose this particular compound based on their previous research into Alzheimer’s disease biomarkers. They point to abnormal formaldehyde metabolism as a key feature of age-related cognitive impairment.
       For this study, the authors recruited 574 participants from the Memory Clinic of the Sixth People’s Hospital of Shanghai, China.
        They divided the participants into five groups based on their performance on tests of cognitive function; these groups ranged from healthy cognition to Alzheimer’s:
       The researchers collected urine samples from the participants for formic acid levels and blood samples for DNA analysis.
       By comparing formic acid levels in each group, the researchers learned that there were differences between cognitively healthy participants and those who were at least partially impaired.
       The group with some degree of cognitive decline had higher levels of formic acid in the urine than the cognitively healthy group.
       In addition, participants with Alzheimer’s disease had significantly higher levels of formic acid in their urine than cognitively healthy participants.
       The scientists also found that urinary formic acid levels were inversely correlated with cognitive tests in memory and attention.
       ”Urine formic acid levels were significantly elevated in the [subjective cognitive decline] diagnosis group, which means that urinary formic acid can be used for early diagnosis [of Alzheimer's disease],” the authors write.
       The results of this study are important for several reasons, not least the high cost of diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease.
       If further research shows that uric acid can detect cognitive decline, this could prove to be an easy-to-use and affordable test.
       In addition, if such a test could detect cognitive decline associated with Alzheimer’s disease, healthcare professionals could intervene more quickly.
       Dr. Sandra Petersen, DNP, senior vice president of health and wellness at Pegasus Senior Living, spoke about the study in an interview with Medical News Today:
        “Changes in Alzheimer’s disease begin about 20 to 30 years before diagnosis and often go unnoticed until significant damage occurs. We know that early detection can give patients more treatment options and the ability to plan for future care.”
       ”A breakthrough in this (non-invasive and inexpensive) test available to the general public will be a game-changer in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease,” Dr. Peterson said.
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