Researchers in Japan have detected a peptide in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) that can show whether a person is developing Alzheimer's. Measuring the level of this peptide could show that the Alzheimer's disease process has started, long before any serious damage is done to the brain.

This research raises new opportunities for combating Alzheimer's. Currently treatments can only be started after considerable structural damage has occurred in the Alzheimer's patient’s brain. However, if this finding is broadly used as a clinical test, treatment may be possible before too much damage is present, offering the hope of much better outcomes.

"This novel peptide is the long-sought surrogate marker for Alzheimer's," says lead researcher Masayasu Okochi.

Treating Alzheimer's is complex for a number of reasons. First, there are few or no signs that a person has Alzheimer's until the destructive process has been active in the person's brain for many months or years. Second, once the damage is done in the brain, it is difficult to restore lost function.

Consequently, many people are trying to find ways of detecting the onset of Alzheimer's long before any symptoms appear. In addition, they want to use a sampling method that does not involve costly scanning equipment.

The multi-centre Japanese team analyzed CSF and brain tissue samples from people with and without diagnosis of Alzheimer's. They discovered that increases in levels of their newly identified peptide (APL1beta28) reflected increased production of Abeta42 in the brain. While Abeta42 is always produced in the brain, this peptide is one of the key constituents of the senile plaques that play a critical role in Alzheimer's, and increased production is associated with plaque formation.

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References:
1. Masayasu Okochi, et al. Alzheimer's disease: Newly found peptide offers hope of early test and better treatment. EMBO Molecular Medicine.

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