Early Detection of Alzheimer’s Disease Might Be Possible, According to Latest Finding of South Korean Researchers
South Korean researchers from the Korea National Institute of Health have found that a huge number of SUMO1, a specific family of proteins, are evident in the bloodstream of patients with Alzheimer's disease compared to mentally sound elders in the country. The breakthrough research may be helpful in the early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease in patients.
Korea Herald reported on Thursday that the scientists have tested on 80 elderly patients with Alzheimer's disease and 133 (65 years or older) healthy Koreans to facilitate the research.
Their study, published earlier this month in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, has found a link between the patients' blood plasma and SUMO1 proteins. This discovery is the first association ever between these properties.
"We hope the findings will help medical experts to come up with a more efficient and simple method of early diagnosis of the disease," says Song Ji Hyun of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "We hope more patients can get diagnosed with the disease with a simple blood test."
However, Song notes that using the levels of SUMO1 in a patient's blood plasma as an identifier for Alzheimer's Disease may not be used on patients who have mild cognitive impairment.
"While many patients who have mild cognitive impairment later develop dementia, the latest findings can be only applied to those who have already developed Alzheimer's disease, however serious their symptoms are," explains Song.
Korea Times noted on May 3, 2013 that a 2012 government report has shown one out of 10 elderly Koreans suffer from the most common form of dementia, Alzheimer's disease. Also, one out of four elders suffer from cognitive disability, which could eventually develop into Alzheimer's disease.
As the elderly population in South Korea increases at a fast rate, dementia becomes a serious danger to the future economy of the country.
"The findings are still meaningful because early diagnosis is crucial in treating Alzheimer's, so those who have very mild symptoms can benefit from the new diagnosis method once it becomes available," notes Song.
