Spinal fluid test promising for Alzheimer's

William Atkins
Wednesday, 22 July 2009 18:32

Science - Health

The Mattsson team tested a compound called amyloid-beta (specifically Abeta 42) in the spinal fluid of these people to see whether it contained or didn’t contain two types of a protein called tau, specifically, total tau protein (T-tau) and tau phosphorylated at position threonine 181 (P-tau).

The compound and the two proteins, the scientists state, help to predict which elderly people are at the greatest risk for getting Alzheimer’s disease.

Amyloid-beta (or, Abeta) is a peptide of 39 to 43 different types of amino acids. Scientists contend that Abeta may build up in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease.

Tau proteins are microtubule –associated proteins (MAPs), or proteins that interact with the microtubules of the cellular cytoskeleton. They are found in neurons within the central nervous system.

The study concluded that the elderly are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease if they had less amyloid-beta or more tau in their spinal fluid than others.

In fact, the researchers found that the subjects with low amyloid-beta and high tau levels were 5 times more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease than those with normal levels of amyloid-beta and tau.

In addition, the test developed by this Mattsson team predicted the development of Alzheimer’s disease in the elderly 83% of the time.

For additional information on the study, please read the July 21, 2009 Science News article “Early Testing for Alzheimer's.”

Dr. Mattsson states within the Science News article: “It’s very important to interfere with the disease as early as possible, and this is where the diagnostic test comes in.”

More information is also found in the Mental Health channel article “Cerebrospinal Fluid May Predict Alzheimer's Risk.”