By Alexandra Thompson Senior Health Reporter For Mailonline
Published: 16:42 BST, 15 May 2019 | Updated: 16:47 BST, 15 May 2019
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Early warning signs of Alzheimer's could be spotted decades before symptoms begin, research suggests.
A study found at-risk patients have more tau protein in their spinal fluid up to 34 years before they show signs of memory loss.
Tau is known to form tangles in the areas of the brain that are important for memory, however it hasn't been proven to cause Alzheimer's.
Studies have shown the build-up of the toxic protein moves through the vital organ as symptoms of the memory-robbing disorder progress.
Early warning signs of Alzheimer's could be spotted decades before symptoms begin (stock)
The research was carried out by Johns Hopkins University and led by Dr Laurent Younes, professor and chair of the department of applied mathematics and statistics.
'Our study suggests it may be possible to use brain imaging and spinal fluid analysis to assess risk of Alzheimer's disease before the most common symptoms, such as mild cognitive impairment, occur,' Dr Younes said.
Some 850,000 people have dementia in the UK, with Alzheimer's being the most common type of the disease, Alzheimer's Society statistics show.
And more than five million adults in the US are living with the disease, according to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.
Alzheimer's disease is a progressive brain disorder that slowly destroys memory, thinking skills and the ability to perform simple tasks.
It is the cause of 60 percent to 70 percent of cases of dementia.
The majority of people with Alzheimer's are age 65 and older.
More than five million Americans have Alzheimer’s.
It is unknown what causes Alzheimer's. Those who have the APOE gene are more likely to develop late-onset Alzheimer's.
Signs and symptoms:
Difficulty remembering newly learned information Disorientation Mood and behavioral changes Suspicion about family, friends and professional
