It seems that scientists are getting closer every day to finding new ways to predict the onset of Alzheimer's disease, the latest of which is the discovery by Swedish researchers of sugar molecules in the blood of infected patients. When combining a simple memory test with genetic analysis, the research team was able to predict the onset of the condition a decade in advance with a great degree of accuracy.
In the new study, the researchers found that glycans, which are complex sugars in the blood or sugar-based molecules that coat proteins, are also present in the blood. By combining this information with genetic analysis and memory testing, they were able to predict the onset of Alzheimer's disease with up to 80 percent accuracy, up to 10 years before symptoms of memory loss appeared.
"The role of glycans, the structures made up of sugar molecules, is a relatively unexplored area in dementia research," said study senior author Robin Chu of Karolinska Institutet. The results of the study showed that blood levels of glycans change early during the development of the disease, which could mean that the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease can be predicted through a blood test and a memory test alone.
Okaz (Jeddah) @OKAZ_online
