Early indication of dementia emerges, potentially appearing two decades prior to the onset of the disease - recent findings reveal dementia's hidden prelude, being characterized as a 'covert phase'.
Alzheimer's Disease Shows Early Signs Decades Before Classic Symptoms Appear
Researchers have pinpointed subtle indicators of Alzheimer's disease that may occur up to two decades before conventional symptoms become manifest. These early signs, often linked to problems with spatial awareness, could signal a future dementia diagnosis.
Individuals with these initial symptoms may struggle with spatial navigation tasks, such as reading satellite navigation devices or maintaining appropriate personal distances. This difficulty usually precedes the visual brain damage that appears on scans.
According to experts from the Allen Institute for Brain Science in Seattle, Alzheimer's disease progresses through two distinct phases, known as 'epochs'. The first phase, or 'stealth' phase, begins decades before symptoms become noticeable and involves damage to just a few vulnerable brain cells. This damage primarily targets the part of the brain crucial for spatial navigation.
Professor Michael Hornberger, a dementia expert from the University of East Anglia, explained in a new report that the early damage to brain cells in the spatial navigation region may account for why becoming lost can be one of the first signs of Alzheimer's disease.
The second phase of Alzheimer's disease involves the accumulation of proteins tau and amyloid in the brain. Even though most aging brains contain some level of these proteins, a significant accumulation of them can cause plaques and tangles, which are thought to be responsible for dementia symptoms.
Until now, dementia diagnoses have relied on questionnaires to identify issues with memory and MRI scans to track brain volume loss. The recent Seattle study analyzed the post-mortem brains of 84 donors with Alzheimer's disease. Using machine learning, scientists tracked the levels of tau and amyloid in the brain.
Researchers discovered that, even in donors with low levels of problematic proteins, there were already signs of decay, with a significant number of crucial inhibitory neurons already lost. According to lead author Dr. Mariano Gabitto, this decay may compound over time, resulting in further disruption as the disease spreads to the middle temporal gyrus - the region responsible for language and memory.
Scientists now hope to determine whether these early signs can accurately predict cognitive decline. They believe that early intervention during the stealth phase could slow or even prevent the progression of Alzheimer's disease.
Dr. Igor Camargo Fontana, director of scientific conference programming at Alzheimer's Association, noted that the disease's long pre-symptomatic and silent period creates opportunities for early detection, early intervention, and even prevention of dementia symptoms.
Approximately 900,000 Brits are currently thought to have Alzheimer's disease, making it a significant public health concern. Further research into the early stages of Alzheimer's disease could pave the way for more effective interventions and slower disease progression.
- The early signs of Alzheimer's disease, such as difficulties with spatial navigation tasks, could be identified decades before standard symptoms appear, providing an opportunity for early intervention in science and medical-conditions research.
- In the first phase of Alzheimer's disease, known as the 'stealth' phase, damage to brain cells responsible for spatial navigation begins, which may lead to issues like becoming lost – an early indication of Alzheimers-disease.
- As part of health-and-wellness measures, researchers are exploring videos and various tools that can help individuals with early signs of Alzheimer's disease, as struggling with spatial navigation tasks might become more manageable with assistance.
- By understanding the early damage to brain cells associated with neurological disorders like Alzheimer's disease, mental-health experts may be able to develop more effective strategies for managing and preventing the advancement of these conditions in the future.
