A Surprising Breakthrough In Alzheimer’s Detection.The Alzheimer's Site
Alzheimer’s Disease has historically been difficult to diagnose. Medical experts have relied on symptoms that indicate memory loss. A new study by the researchers at the University of Alberta in Canada has uncovered a new method to diagnose the disease, according to Tech Times. Your spit, or saliva, may uncover risks for the disease.
The researchers conducted an experiment to determine if Alzheimer’s in patients could determine predisposed risk factors for the disease. Their findings revealed that some patients had higher levels of compounds and a series of substances within their saliva that distinguished normal aging from people with mild cognitive dementia, a condition that could lead to Alzheimer’s Disease, as reported by Time Magazine.
The study’s results are not yet conclusive, but the data collected is promising, said Maria C. Carrillo, Alzheimer’s Association chief science officer, in Tech Times. A saliva test can help with early detection and lead to prompt treatments for patients at risk for the disease. “What that does is it tells a physician in a regular doctor’s office that this person should get more testing,” said Carrillo.
Many people, beyond the patient, are affected by Alzheimer’s. Learning more about early detection and risk factors for Alzheimer’s can drastically change your life. Consider making your mark on the world by supporting patients and families in need; make a donation to the Alzheimer’s Site to save thousands of lives and allow for more innovative research to take place.