Signs of Alzheimer's disease are detectable far earlier than previously thought
A new study suggests that Alzheimer's disease may be detected by brain imaging more than seven years earlier than previously assumed. Researchers from the Department of Psychology at the University of Oslo led the study, published in Nature Neuroscience.
A new study by researchers at the University of Oslo has revealed that signs of Alzheimer's disease can be detected in the brain up to seven years before the condition becomes visible through current imaging methods. Led by James M. Roe, a postdoctoral researcher at the Center for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition, the study published in Nature Neuroscience found structural brain changes occurring years before amyloid plaques become detectable via PET scans.
The researchers analyzed longitudinal MRI data from cognitively healthy older adults over nearly two decades, identifying structural changes that occurred before plaque buildup. These findings suggest that brain changes may precede detectable amyloid accumulation, potentially enabling earlier monitoring and monitoring of the disease progression.
This could support the development of drugs targeting other processes involved in Alzheimer's disease, though further research is needed in this area.
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