Detect Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and Alzheimer’s by blood test
A research team creates a new one blood test before, with which it should be possible, the Alzheimer’s dementia as well as the Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease discovered at an early stage. The test is now to be established in clinical routine.
An international working group around the neurologist Professor Dr. Markus Otto of the University Medicine Halle (Saale) has developed a new blood test that makes it possible to diagnose Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and, as a further step, Alzheimer’s dementia at an early stage. The research results were recently published in the renowned journal “Neurology” presented.
Creutzfeld-Jakob and Alzheimer’s have similar symptoms
Both Creutzfeld-Jakob disease and Alzheimer’s dementia are difficult to diagnose. “The previously incurable Creutzfeld-Jakob disease is accompanied by the loss of brain functions and further physical deterioration and initially the symptoms are quite similar to those of Alzheimer’s disease“, reports head of research Otto.
A protein indicates the diseases
According to the research group, the new blood test now makes it possible to significantly simplify the diagnosis of the two diseases. The team was able to show that a protein called beta-Synuclein is significantly increased as soon as Creutzfeld-Jakob disease breaks out.
As early as 2016, researchers were able to prove that the protein beta-synuclein is greatly increased in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients suffering from Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. In addition, the protein was also increased in the cerebrospinal fluid of people affected by Alzheimer’s, but not as much as in Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.
Blood test to replace spinal fluid test
„In recent years, we have then succeeded in transferring this process to blood‘ confirms Professor Otto. The blood test achieves similar values as the much more complex analyzes of the spinal fluid. The new test thus enables a gentler and simpler diagnostic procedure.
Early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s and Creutzfeldt-Jakob
The researchers are currently working on integrating the new methods into the clinical routine of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. In further steps it is planned to also use the method as Early detection of Alzheimer’s to establish. (vb)
Author and source information
This text corresponds to the specifications of medical specialist literature, medical guidelines and current studies and has been checked by medical professionals.
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Author:
Diploma-Editor (FH) Volker Blasek
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Sources:
- Universitätsmedizin Halle: New blood test enables early detection of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and Alzheimer’s (published: April 8th, 2022), medizin.uni-halle.de
- Steffen Halbgebauer, Samir Abu-Rumeileh, Patrick Oeckl, et al.: Blood β-Synuclein and Neurofilament Light Chain During the Course of Prion Disease; in: Neurology (2022), neurology.org
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Important NOTE:
This article contains general advice only and should not be used for self-diagnosis or treatment. He can not substitute a visit at the doctor.
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