According to scientists at the National Brain Research Centre (NBRC), a groundbreaking blood test has been developed that can identify the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, a condition that gradually impairs memory and other vital brain functions. This innovative test may soon undergo a pilot study for validation purposes before being made available to the general public.
Dr. Pravat Mandal, a professor at NBRC, stated, "By the time the patient actually visits the neurologist, the progression of Alzheimer's has already started." Mandal's team has been working on this significant discovery and is collaborating with hospitals to conduct a pilot study involving a sizable population. Once this pilot study is successfully completed, the blood test can be introduced in clinical settings, including hospitals and path labs, within the next 8-10 months, pending necessary approvals. The estimated cost of the test is expected to be less than Rs 2,000.
While scientists strive to determine the possible cause of Alzheimer's on an urgent basis, Mandal explained that there is a widely held belief that the disease is triggered by the accumulation of amyloid plaque in the brain. However, no cure has been developed based on this theory. Mandal pointed out that oxidative stress, linked to an imbalance of the master antioxidant glutathione (GSH) and metallic deposition in the brain's hippocampus, which is responsible for cognitive functions, may be one of the contributing factors to Alzheimer's. The damage caused by uncontrolled radicals leads to the destruction of neuronal cells in the hippocampus region.
Mandal's team discovered that in a healthy individual, the levels of glutathione and metallic profiles in both the brain and blood are balanced, as determined through advanced imaging techniques and biophysical studies using a specialized blood kit for glutathione and iron levels. The researchers reviewed clinical observations of 400 Alzheimer's patients, finding that they had low levels of glutathione and iron in their blood.
The original study was published in the May 31 edition of ACS Chemical Neuroscience, a peer-reviewed scientific journal by the American Chemical Society. Dr. Mandal emphasized that further validation of these novel findings is necessary by including diagnosed Alzheimer's patients from different regions before the test can be implemented globally as an early screening tool.
When asked about future plans after this breakthrough, Mandal expressed the intention to initiate a clinical trial involving glutathione supplementation for early-stage Alzheimer's patients.
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