Early-stage Alzheimer’s disease could be detected from urine samples, study finds

The researchers continued: “The early stages of the disease occur before the irreversible dementia stage, and this is the golden window for intervention and treatment. Therefore, large-scale screening for early-stage Alzheimer’s disease is necessary for the elderly.”

The problem with screening for Alzheimer’s is that, at present, the diagnostic methods used by doctors tend to be expensive and difficult to administer. For example, one approach relies on brain imaging via so-called positron emission tomography (PET) — but these are costly and require exposing patients to radiation during the scan.

Tests that use biomarkers, on the other hand, typically rely on the patient giving a blood sample or, worse, a sample of cerebrospinal fluid obtained via lumbar puncture. Both of these procedures can be off-putting for patients.

In contrast, urine samples are non-invasive and easy to deliver — making them well-suited for large-scale screening programs. While experts have previously identified urinary biomarkers for Alzheimer’s, none have been capable of revealing the disease in its early stages.

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Article source: https://www.express.co.uk/news/science/1703719/alzheimers-disease-early-stage-screening-biomarker-formic-acid-urine