Spinal-Fluid Test Confirmed To Predict Alzheimer's

omnibit writes "The New York Times reports that researchers have found a spinal-fluid test can be 100 percent accurate in identifying patients with significant memory loss who are on their way to developing Alzheimer's disease. The new study included more than 300 patients in their seventies, 114 with normal memories, 200 with memory problems, and 102 with Alzheimer's disease. Their spinal fluid was analyzed for amyloid beta, which forms plaques in the brain, and for tau, another protein that accumulates in dead and dying nerve cells in the brain. Nearly every person with Alzheimer's had the characteristic spinal fluid protein levels."

Re:Thank goodness:

[ColdWetDog]

That happens, but it is rare. But because of the potential numbers of people who would want the test, the difficulty of doing a lumbar puncture (spinal tap) on persons who have arthritis in the back (very common among us ancient folk), are of the supersized persuasion, or have other reasons to dissuade themselves, I don't think this is going to be the ultimate test.

Instead it will serve as a proxy to allow simpler tests to be developed. TFA also notes that PET scans are fairly accurate. These are available at many larger medical centers but are also pretty pricey and technically complex.

This is also not the first time that lumbar punctures for beta amyloid [elements4health.com] have been used to diagnose Alzheimer's. And finally, the abstract [ama-assn.org] of the original article for your viewing pleasure.

Re:100% Accurate, Nearly All of the Time!

[h4rr4r]

299/300 = .9966 = 99.66%
you want 3 sigfigs

99.7%

Re:Potentially huge problem with the test

[PatrickThomson]

Amyloid beta was there and it was targetable by the methodology available to drugs companies. Now, they've discovered it doesn't work, and there's a few years of lag time between findings synchronising. I don't think there are any more gamma-sec or beta-sec programs in drug discovery. Let's just hope there's another target around.

Re:Thank goodness:

[Rei]

The debilitating headache is not rare; it occurs in a third of all cases and normally lasts 24-48 hours. What's rare is when it lasts a year or more. Somewhere in-between is my spouse's case, which lasted a couple weeks and took medical remediation.

Re:Does knowing early help?

[RabbitWho]

Suicide is more painful for the family, believe me.