biomarkers
Lauren Davis
Feng said the combination of AI and
Protein biomarkers help predict dementia
protein analysis offers a promising avenue for
15 years in advance
lumbar puncture or complex imaging methods,
precision medicine, which is highly important for screening middle-aged to older individuals within the community who are at high risk of dementia. He hopes that future drugs may be developed to interact with the proteins identified in the study. Co-corresponding author Professor Wei Cheng, from Fudan University, added that the research builds on the team’s previously developed dementia prediction model which used variables such as age, the presence of a certain gene and mother’s age at death. Co-corresponding author Professor Jintai Yu, also from Fudan University, noted that other previous risk models were primarily dependent on intricate and difficultto-obtain biomarkers using procedures such as hindering their widespread use. “The proteomic biomarkers are more easy to access and non-invasive, and they can substantially facilitate the application of large-scale population screening,” he said. Commenting on the news was Dr Sheona Scales, Director of Research at Alzheimer’s iStock.com/Henk Badenhorst
N
ew drug technology can slow or
even reverse the progress of Alzheimer’s, but only if the disease is detected early enough. Now UK and Chinese scientists have shown how profiles of proteins in the blood accurately predict dementia up to 15 years prior to clinical diagnosis, with their breakthrough study — understood to be the largest of its kind — published in the journal Nature Aging. Scientists at The University of Warwick and Fudan University used the largest known cohort of blood proteomics and dementia to date, including
Research UK, who said the new study “adds to the growing body of evidence that measuring levels of certain proteins in the blood of healthy people could accurately predict dementia before symptoms develop”. “Further studies, including in more diverse
Of 1463 proteins analysed, aided by a type
populations, are needed to verify these tests and
of artificial intelligence (AI) known as machine
predictive models,” Scales noted. “And, even when
learning, 11 proteins were identified and
tests show promise in studies like this, they still
combined as a protein panel, which the researchers
need to go through regulatory approval before
showed to be highly accurate at predicting future
they can be used in a healthcare setting.”
dementia. Further incorporation of conventional
Dr Amanda Heslegrave, a Senior Research
risk factors of age, sex, education level and genetics
Fellow at the UK Dementia Research Institute at
saw the predictive model reach an accuracy of
UCL, added that studies such as this “are required
over 90%, indicating its potential future use in
if we are to intervene with disease-modifying
community-based dementia screening programs.
therapies at the very earliest stage of dementia”.
“This model could be seamlessly integrated
“Limitations to be aware of are that the
into the NHS and used as a screening tool by GPs,”
UKBB is a highly curated biobank and may not
said lead author Professor Jianfeng Feng, from
capture all populations that we need to know
the University of Warwick and Fudan University.
the risk for; the new biomarkers identified will
Proteins (eg, Glial Fibrillary acidic protein, or
need further validation before being used as
blood samples from 52,645 healthy participants
GFAP) had previously been identified as potential
recruited from the UK Biobank (UKBB). Blood
biomarkers for dementia in smaller studies, but this
“The implications are that with disease-
samples collected between 2006 and 2010 were
new research was much larger and conducted over
modifying treatments close to being approved in
frozen and then analysed by the research team
several years. Known as a longitudinal analysis (a
the UK we need to develop a screening strategy.
between April 2021 and February 2022. As of
study conducted on a sample of participants over a
This study with its use of follow-up data needs to be
March 2023, a total of 1417 participants had gone
number of years), the researchers were able to show
replicated, and biomarkers that enable us not only
on to develop dementia — and these people’s blood
the differences and trajectories between those with
to screen for disease risk, but also to differentiate
showed dysregulation of protein biomarkers.
dementia and controls across 15 years.
between diseases, should be a priority.”
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screening tools,” she said.
LAB+LIFE SCIENTIST - Feb/Mar 2024 | 13