New methods to examine the brain and spinal fluid heighten the chance of early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. Results from a large European study, led by researchers at the Karolinska Institutet, are now published in the medical journal BRAIN. These findings may have important implications for early detection of the disease, the choice of drug treatment, and the inclusion of patients in clinical trials.
Despite many years of intensive research, no effective treatment currently exists for Alzheimer's disease, which is the most common form of dementia. It has become increasingly clear that, if the disease is to be treated successfully, it must be detected early, perhaps even before symptoms are evident. Thus, there is a great need for reliable diagnostic methods so that treatment to slow or prevent the disease can begin as early as possible. Read more.