Alzheimer's Disease: High Amyloid Levels Linked to Early Disease

A study published in JAMA Neurology appears to indicate that higher concentrations of brain amyloid signal early Alzheimer's disease (AD), reports News-Medical . In the initial data from the Anti-Amyloid Treatment in Asymptomatic Alzheimer's Disease (A4) study, it appears that amyloid accumulation in the brain mirrors early AD. When the individual is asymptomatic or lacks clinical features, a higher level of amyloid is associated with lower scores on cognitive testing, family history of the disease, and decline in daily cognitive function. The A4 prevention trial started in 2014 and will run until late 2022. Its goal is to identify the efficacy of the monoclonal antibody drug solanezumab at preventing or treating cognitive decline, for use in cognitively normal people with high amyloid levels. "A4 demonstrates that prevention trials can enroll high-risk individuals — people with biomarkers for Alzheimer's who are cognitively normal," said Laurie Ryan at the National Institute of Aging. "Ultimately, precision medicine approaches will be essential."