Alzheimer's 'could be spotted through a URINE test' trends now
A urine test could in the future reveal if people have early-stage Alzheimer's.
The simple test can identify people with memory problems and Alzheimer's based on the level of formic acid in their urine, a study has found.
Urine and blood tests are the major hope for one day screening people for early signs of dementia, as is currently done for early cancer.
CT and PET scans of the brain are expensive and expose people to radiation, while spinal taps to look for clues in spinal fluid are uncomfortable and invasive.
The simple test can identify people with memory problems and Alzheimer's based on the level of formic acid in their urine, a study has found
However, while urine and blood tests are quicker and more straightforward, more research is needed on how well they work.
Now a study of almost 600 people suggests a high amount of formic acid in urine can be a warning sign of Alzheimer's.
Researchers split 574 people into five groups, including those with normal thinking skills, people experiencing cognitive decline and those with more serious cognitive impairment.
The fourth group included people with 'mild cognitive impairment' — a clinical diagnosis which can lead to Alzheimer's, while the fifth group already had Alzheimer's.
Formic acid was higher among people in every single group with Alzheimer's or cognitive problems, when compared to those with normal thinking skills.
Formic acid is produced in the body from formaldehyde, which at high levels in the brain may lead to clumps of harmful proteins seen in people with Alzheimer's.
Researchers believe it may be a red flag for Alzheimer's which can be used with blood tests to detect the condition.
Sian Gregory, research information manager at Alzheimer's Society, said: 'This is an exciting discovery as it offers a potential new way of detecting Alzheimer's disease, that is less invasive and more cost-effective than current methods of diagnosing the disease.
'This has never been more important, with diagnosis rates for dementia at a five year low.
'However, this research is at an early stage and the study was fairly small.
'We're keen for more research to understand how Alzheimer's disease might increase levels of formic acid in urine.'
The study, published in the journal Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, suggests looking for formic acid in urine works better than blood tests for some proteins linked to Alzheimer's.
The urine test results
