Two Brain Proteins Linked to Dementia Could Spot it Earlier

More than six million Americans are estimated to have Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the most common type of dementia, an irreversible condition that leads to loss of cognitive and physical function. Despite decades of intensive study, there are still no treatments that can slow the disease process, let alone stop or reverse it. In recent years, scientists discovered that abnormal levels of two proteins, Amyloid-β and Tau, could serve as predictive indicators for AD (Walker et al., 2020). Current diagnosis of dementia, specifically Alzheimer’s disease, relies on measuring changes in these proteins. However, recent findings suggest a new avenue for early intervention.

A recent study has identified two brain proteins, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and neurofilament light chain (NfL), as early indicators of dementia, potentially detectable up to 15 years before clinical diagnosis. The study, conducted with data from 48,542 participants in the UK Biobank, revealed that elevated levels of these proteins correlate with cognitive decline and a heightened risk of various types of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease. These proteins were associated with a higher risk of cognitive decline and various types of dementia. Early detection of these biomarkers could lead to new interventions and therapies to slow or prevent disease progression (Fischer, 2024).

The study also notes that these proteins are present in other neurological conditions, such as traumatic brain injuries, Parkinson’s disease, and multiple sclerosis, highlighting the need for further research to refine their predictive value for dementia (Fischer, 2024). The researchers propose that regular screening for these proteins in middle-aged and older adults could become a standard practice in clinical settings. By identifying individuals at higher risk earlier, healthcare providers can tailor more effective prevention and management strategies, thereby improving patient outcomes and quality of life (Wang et al., 2024).

Analyzing GFAP and NfL levels has the potential to revolutionize the way dementia and other psychoneurological conditions are diagnosed and treated. Early detection, decades before symptoms emerge, opens the potential for more effective therapies that delay disease progression, allowing clinicians to intervene before significant neuronal damage has occurred — and perhaps stop it completely.

References

Fischer, K. (2024, May 13). Two brain proteins linked to dementia could spot it earlier, study finds. McKnight's Long-Term Care News. Retrieved from https://www.mcknights.com/news/two-brain-proteins-linked-to-dementia-could-spot-it-earlier-study-finds/

Wang, X., Shi, Z., Qiu, Y. et al. (2024). Peripheral GFAP and NfL as early biomarkers for dementia: longitudinal insights from the UK Biobank. BMC Med 22, 192. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-024-03418-8

Walker KA, Chen J, Zhang J, et al. (2020). Large-scale plasma proteomic analysis identifies proteins and pathways associated with dementia risk. National Institute on Aging. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.038307