Blood Test Predicts Onset of Alzheimer's Disease
|
By LabMedica International staff writers Posted on 22 Jul 2014 |

Image: The Luminex 200 System for Multiplex Testing (Photo courtesy of the University of Utah).
A combination of 10 proteins could predict whether individuals would progress from mild cognitive impairment to Alzheimer's disease (AD) within a year has been discovered.
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) which includes problems with day-to-day memory, attention and language can be an early sign of dementia, but it can also be a symptom of stress or anxiety. About 10% of people with MCI go on to develop dementia within a year, however, apart from regular memory tests, there is currently no reliable way to predict who will and will not be among them.
Scientists at King's College London (UK) working with Proteome Sciences plc (Cobham, UK) analyzed blood samples from 1,148 subjects: 476 with AD, 220 with MCI, and 452 elderly controls with no dementia. The team analyzed 26 proteins in the blood samples and found that 16 linked strongly to brain shrinkage in the MCI and Alzheimer's groups. All candidate proteins were measured using xMAP multiplex bead assays incorporated in 7 MILLIPLEX MAP panels run on the Luminex 200 instrument (Luminex; Austin, TX, USA).
In a secondary analysis they discovered that a combination of 10 proteins could predict whether individuals would progress from MCI to Alzheimer's disease within a year with an accuracy of 87%. They found that the proteins transthyretin (TTR), clusterin, cystatin C, alpha-1-acid glycoprotein (A1AcidG), Intercellular Adhesion Molecule 1 (ICAM1), cytochrome c4 precursor (CC4), pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF), alpha 1-antitrypsin (A1AT), Chemokine ligand 5 (RANTES), and Apolipoprotein C-III (ApoC3) plus the Apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype, had the greatest predictive power.
Abdul Hye, PhD, the lead author of the study said, “The study marks the end of many years' work to find which of the thousands of proteins in the blood were clinically relevant. We now have a set of 10 proteins that can predict whether someone with early symptoms of memory loss, or mild cognitive impairment will develop Alzheimer's disease within a year, with a high level of accuracy.” The study was published on July 10, 2014, in the journal Alzheimer's and Dementia.
Related Links:
King's College London
Proteome Sciences plc
Luminex
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) which includes problems with day-to-day memory, attention and language can be an early sign of dementia, but it can also be a symptom of stress or anxiety. About 10% of people with MCI go on to develop dementia within a year, however, apart from regular memory tests, there is currently no reliable way to predict who will and will not be among them.
Scientists at King's College London (UK) working with Proteome Sciences plc (Cobham, UK) analyzed blood samples from 1,148 subjects: 476 with AD, 220 with MCI, and 452 elderly controls with no dementia. The team analyzed 26 proteins in the blood samples and found that 16 linked strongly to brain shrinkage in the MCI and Alzheimer's groups. All candidate proteins were measured using xMAP multiplex bead assays incorporated in 7 MILLIPLEX MAP panels run on the Luminex 200 instrument (Luminex; Austin, TX, USA).
In a secondary analysis they discovered that a combination of 10 proteins could predict whether individuals would progress from MCI to Alzheimer's disease within a year with an accuracy of 87%. They found that the proteins transthyretin (TTR), clusterin, cystatin C, alpha-1-acid glycoprotein (A1AcidG), Intercellular Adhesion Molecule 1 (ICAM1), cytochrome c4 precursor (CC4), pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF), alpha 1-antitrypsin (A1AT), Chemokine ligand 5 (RANTES), and Apolipoprotein C-III (ApoC3) plus the Apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype, had the greatest predictive power.
Abdul Hye, PhD, the lead author of the study said, “The study marks the end of many years' work to find which of the thousands of proteins in the blood were clinically relevant. We now have a set of 10 proteins that can predict whether someone with early symptoms of memory loss, or mild cognitive impairment will develop Alzheimer's disease within a year, with a high level of accuracy.” The study was published on July 10, 2014, in the journal Alzheimer's and Dementia.
Related Links:
King's College London
Proteome Sciences plc
Luminex
Latest Clinical Chem. News
- VOCs Show Promise for Early Multi-Cancer Detection
- Portable Raman Spectroscopy Offers Cost-Effective Kidney Disease Diagnosis at POC
- Gold Nanoparticles to Improve Accuracy of Ovarian Cancer Diagnosis
- Simultaneous Cell Isolation Technology Improves Cancer Diagnostic Accuracy
- Simple Non-Invasive Hair-Based Test Could Speed ALS Diagnosis
- Paper Strip Saliva Test Detects Elevated Uric Acid Levels Without Blood Draws
- Prostate Cancer Markers Based on Chemical Make-Up of Calcifications to Speed Up Detection
- Breath Test Could Help Detect Blood Cancers
- ML-Powered Gas Sensors to Detect Pathogens and AMR at POC
- Saliva-Based Cancer Detection Technology Eliminates Need for Complex Sample Preparation
- Skin Swabs Could Detect Parkinson’s Years Before Symptoms Appear
- New Clinical Chemistry Analyzer Designed to Meet Growing Demands of Modern Labs

- New Reference Measurement Procedure Standardizes Nucleic Acid Amplification Test Results
- Pen-Like Tool Quickly and Non-Invasively Detects Opioids from Skin
- Simple Urine Test Could Detect Multiple Cancers at Early Stage
- Earwax Test Accurately Detects Parkinson’s by Identifying Odor Molecules
Channels
Molecular Diagnostics
view channel
Multi-Cancer Early Detection Blood Test Increases Cancer Detection
Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide as most deadly cancers are found too late. Approximately 70% of cancer deaths come from cancers that do not have standard-of-care screening and are... Read more
Portable Label-Free Device Tracks Alzheimer's Disease in Real Time
Alzheimer’s disease is marked by the accumulation of toxic protein fragments in the brain that damage nerve cells and impair memory. Detecting and tracking these early changes remains a major challenge,... Read moreHematology
view channel
Viscoelastic Testing Could Improve Treatment of Maternal Hemorrhage
Postpartum hemorrhage, severe bleeding after childbirth, remains one of the leading causes of maternal mortality worldwide, yet many of these deaths are preventable. Standard care can be hindered by delays... Read more
Pioneering Model Measures Radiation Exposure in Blood for Precise Cancer Treatments
Scientists have long focused on protecting organs near tumors during radiotherapy, but blood — a vital, circulating tissue — has largely been excluded from dose calculations. Each blood cell passing through... Read more
Platelets Could Improve Early and Minimally Invasive Detection of Cancer
Platelets are widely recognized for their role in blood clotting and scab formation, but they also play a crucial role in immune defense by detecting pathogens and recruiting immune cells.... Read more
Portable and Disposable Device Obtains Platelet-Rich Plasma Without Complex Equipment
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) plays a crucial role in regenerative medicine due to its ability to accelerate healing and repair tissue. However, obtaining PRP traditionally requires expensive centrifugation... Read moreImmunology
view channel
Molecular Microscope Diagnostic System Assesses Lung Transplant Rejection
Lung transplant recipients face a significant risk of rejection and often require routine biopsies to monitor graft health, yet assessing the same biopsy sample can be highly inconsistent among pathologists.... Read more
Blood Test Tracks Treatment Resistance in High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer
High-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) is often diagnosed at an advanced stage because it spreads microscopically throughout the abdomen, and although initial surgery and chemotherapy can work, most... Read more
Luminescent Probe Measures Immune Cell Activity in Real Time
The human immune system plays a vital role in defending against disease, but its activity must be precisely monitored to ensure effective treatment in cancer therapy, autoimmune disorders, and organ transplants.... Read more
Blood-Based Immune Cell Signatures Could Guide Treatment Decisions for Critically Ill Patients
When a patient enters the emergency department in critical condition, clinicians must rapidly decide whether the patient has an infection, whether it is bacterial or viral, and whether immediate treatment... Read moreMicrobiology
view channel
Fast Noninvasive Bedside Test Uses Sugar Fingerprint to Detect Fungal Infections
Candida bloodstream infections are a growing global health threat, causing an estimated 6 million cases and 3.8 million deaths annually. Hospitals are particularly vulnerable, as weakened patients after... Read more
Rapid Sepsis Diagnostic Device to Enable Personalized Critical Care for ICU Patients
Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that occurs when the body’s response to infection spirals out of control, damaging organs and leading to critical illness. Patients often arrive at intensive care... Read morePathology
view channel
AI Improves Cervical Cancer Screening in Low-Resource Settings
Access to cervical cancer screening in low- and middle-income countries remains limited, leaving many women without early detection for this life-threatening disease. The lack of access to laboratories,... Read more
New Multi-Omics Tool Illuminates Cancer Progression
Tracking how cancers evolve into more aggressive and therapy-resistant forms has long been a challenge for researchers. Many current tools can only capture limited genetic information from tumor samples,... Read moreTechnology
view channel
Acoustofluidic Device to Transform Point-Of-Care sEV-Based Diagnostics
Rapid and sensitive detection of small extracellular vesicles (sEVs)—key biomarkers in cancer and organ health monitoring—remains challenging due to the need for multiple preprocessing steps and bulky... Read more
AI Algorithm Assesses Progressive Decline in Kidney Function
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects more than 700 million people worldwide and remains a major global health challenge. The condition often progresses silently, and many patients remain undiagnosed until... Read more
Taste-Based Influenza Test Could Replace Nasal Swabs with Chewing Gum
Influenza is one of the most dangerous infectious diseases worldwide, claiming around half a million lives each year. What makes it particularly insidious is that flu viruses are contagious even before... Read more
3D Micro-Printed Sensors to Advance On-Chip Biosensing for Early Disease Detection
Early-stage disease diagnosis depends on the ability to detect biomarkers with exceptional sensitivity and precision. However, traditional biosensing technologies struggle with achieving this at the micro-scale,... Read moreIndustry
view channel
Bio-Rad and Biodesix Partner to Develop Droplet Digital PCR High Complexity Assays
Bio-Rad Laboratories (Hercules, CA, USA) and Biodesix (Louisville, CO, USA) have expanded their partnership agreement under which Biodesix will conduct the development, clinical validation, and regulatory... Read moreHologic to be Acquired by Blackstone and TPG
Hologic (Marlborough, MA, USA) has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by funds managed by Blackstone (New York, NY, USA) and TPG (San Francisco, CA, USA) in a transaction valued at up to... Read more
Bio-Techne and Oxford Nanopore to Accelerate Development of Genetics Portfolio
Bio-Techne Corporation (Minneapolis, MN, USA) has expanded its agreement with Oxford Nanopore Technologies (Oxford, UK) to broaden Bio-Techne's ability to develop a portfolio of genetic products on Oxford... Read more







