Dementia signs are in the in blood, researchers say

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Researchers have reportedly found warning signs that could indicate impending dementia in the blood

In a new study published Monday in the scientific journal “EMBO Molecular Medicine,” scientists from the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) and the University Medical Center Göttingen said that certain levels of microRNAs could be harbingers of the condition. 

Patients with mild cognitive impairment were found to have an increased blood level of the three microRNAs and 90% developed Alzheimer’s disease within two years.

Lastly, the study found that – on mice and cell cultures – the three microRNAs influence inflammatory processes in the brain and “neuroplasticity,” including the ability of nerve cells to connect to one another.

“In our view, they are not only markers, but also have an active impact on pathological processes. This makes them potential targets for therapy,” Fischer said. “Indeed, we see in mice that learning ability improves when these microRNAs are blocked with drugs. We’ve observed this in mice with age-related mental deficits, as well as in mice with brain damage similar to that occurring in Alzheimer’s disease.”

While the study suggests that the microRNA signature could be used as a “point-of-care” screening approach to detect individuals at risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease – as well as highlights the potential of RNA therapies to treat it – the technique is not yet suitable for practical use. 

In further studies, Fischer said that the group aims to validate the biomarker clinically.

In the U.S., of those at least 65 years of age, there were an estimated 5 million adults with dementia in 2014 and there are projected to be nearly 14 million by 2060.

The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that there are currently more than 55 million people with dementia across the globe and nearly 10 million new cases every year.

Age, family history, poor heart health, race and ethnicity and traumatic brain injuries can all increase the risk for dementia, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

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