Scientists Discover Alzheimer’s ‘Clock’

Scientists have developed a model using a blood test to forecast when a person is likely to start having symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) within approximately three to four years. This could be a game-changer for people who know they have this disease running in their family. Details about the “clock” were published in the journal Nature Medicine.

“Recognizing the impact of these additional pathologies is crucial, as they may modify clinical trajectories beyond the core AD pathology. Future work incorporating complementary biomarkers of amyloid, tau and other pathologies will be important for improving the accuracy and applicability of these models,” said the authors of the publication.

A Tool in the Toolbox

This prediction tool is just one of the options research teams can use to help people and try to get ahead of Alzheimer’s before memories begin to fade. Two highly anticipated clinical trials are studying whether giving people medication before symptoms appear can have a benefit in slowing progression. They’re looking at the protein that creates what’s called amyloid plaques that build up in the brain, which prompts the brain to diminish short-term memories. New treatments are being studied to see if medications can remove those plaques.

Alzheimer’s Plays Role in TV Show ‘Memory of a Killer’

Patrick Dempsey plays a hitman with early-onset Alzheimer’s, which is starting to make his personal and work life unravel. The show highlights some of the confusion and “tip of the tongue” moments that are hallmark symptoms, forgetting pin codes, names, places, and people.

The show is both compelling and heartbreaking.