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Biomarkers for Memory Loss

Technology Benefits

Can predict among cognitive normal who will progress to disease Minimally-invasive (as opposed to lumbar puncture)Low cost (low tech, as opposed to neuroimaging)Quick, familiar, and easily tolerated by most individualsThese biomarkers define the asymptomatic period in patients and are critical for successful development and application of the therapeutics. The preclinical state of the disease offers a window of opportunity for timely disease-modifying intervention.

Detailed Technology Description

Dr. Federoff and his team have discovered several biomarkers including but not limited to lipids, metabolites, genes and proteins in the blood that can predict with close to 100% accuracy if a healthy person will develop mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Existing preclinical biomarkers of AD are obtained either through time-consuming and expensive neuroimaging modalities, or via invasive and risky lumbar punctures for cerebrospinal fluid analyses. The present invention has a potential for a powerful blood test to identify people at risk for progressive cognitive decline. Further, the novel method has a potential to be used in selecting individuals for secondary prevention trials and to provide clues for targeted therapeutic interventions.

*Abstract

None

*Publications

“Plasma phospholipids identify antecedent memory impairment in older adults”. Nature Medicine April 2014; 20 (4): 415-8.Other manuscripts in preparation

*Stage of Development

The study included 525 healthy participants aged 70 and older who gave blood samples upon enrolling and at various points in the study. Over the course of the five-year study, 74 participants met the criteria for either mild Alzheimer’s disease (AD) or a condition known as amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI), in which memory loss is prominent. Of these, 46 were diagnosed upon enrollment and 28 developed aMCI or mild AD during the study (the latter group called converters). The metabolomic/lipidomic analyses were carried out on a discovery group of 124 subjects and researcher’s validation group of 51 subjects.Blinded data were analyzed to determine if the subjects could be characterized into the correct diagnostic categories based solely on the biomarkers identified in the discovery phase.

Country/Region

USA