Can a Blood Test Identify Those at High Risk for Alzheimer’s Disease?

Could there be a new way to determine who’s at high risk for Alzheimer’s disease? A new study carried out at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden shows that a simple blood test could identify who’s at high risk of developing this devastating brain disease long before the symptoms develop.

Determining Who’s at Risk for Alzheimer’s Disease: A Study

To carry out this study, researchers followed a group of 1,500 middle-aged women for more than thirty-five years. At the beginning of the study which started in the 1960’s, the participants underwent a physical exam and blood studies. They were then closely followed over the thirty-five year study period to determine who developed symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. The results? The researchers found that women who had higher levels of a blood amino acid known as homocysteine were fifty percent more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease relative to women with normal homocysteine levels. The researchers hope that this simple blood test may be a way to identify women who are high risk for Alzheimer’s disease long before the brain changes become apparent.

Does High Homocysteine Increase the Risk for Alzheimer’s Disease?

High homocysteine levels have also been correlated with a higher risk of heart disease and heart attack, although it isn’t clear whether the high homocystine levels actually damage the heart and blood vessels or whether there’s another factor that damages the heart, and at the same time, raises homocysteine levels. The same is true with Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers aren’t sure whether homocysteine causes damage to the brain or whether the high levels are simply a marker for an increased risk of dementia. Deficiencies of certain B vitamins including folate, pyridoxine, and vitamin B12 can lead to elevated homocysteine levels, but it’s still questionable whether supplementing with these vitamins is of any benefit to people at risk for Alzheimer’s.

The Significance of High Homocysteine Levels

Homocysteine levels can be checked through a blood test which some doctors do to evaluate heart disease risk and as a supplementary test for detecting B12 deficiencies, but it isn’t routinely used as a test for people at risk of Alzheimer’s disease – at least not at this point. Elevated homocysteine levels have also been associated with an increased risk of bone fractures in the elderly. Overall, having a high homocysteine level appears to be a negative from a health standpoint.

The Bottom Line?

Elevated homocysteine levels could be a way to identify people at high risk for Alzheimer’s disease, although it isn’t clear whether lowering homocysteine levels actually reduces the risk of getting the disease. Hopefully, further research will clarify this