Biomarkers of Cell Death in Alzheimer’s Reverse Course After Symptom Onset

Researchers from the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis recently reported in the journal Science Translational Medicine that three promising biomarkers have been identified to potentially detect Alzheimer’s disease in its early stages. The levels of markers of neuronal injury increase in the spinal fluid for a decade or more before the onset of dementia. However, new research shows that they later reverse course, decreasing as symptoms of memory loss and cognitive decline appear. Two of the biomarkers, tau and p-tau, are structural proteins that form the neurofibrillary tangles seen in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients; the third is a neuronal calcium sensor called VILIP-1. As expected, levels of the biomarkers increased over time in participants who had not yet developed dementia. However, researchers were surprised to find that in most participants who had dementia, levels of the three biomarkers decreased over time. It’s speculated that increasing levels of the biomarkers prior to dementia likely reflect an intense stage of cell death, while decreasing levels as dementia begins indicate a slowing of this process. To read more about this study, click here.