Protein imbalance during middle age linked to dementia risk 25 years later
Share on Pinterest Scientists have identified new proteins linked to the risk of developing dementia 25 years later. Lucas Ottone/Stocksy Dementia is not an inevitable consequence of aging, but increasing numbers of people are affected by it, with Alzheimer’s disease being the most common form. Early diagnosis and intervention benefit people with dementia and their carers, so the search is on for early markers of the disease. Now, a long-term study in middle-aged people has identified 32 proteins that are linked to later development of Alzheimer’s. The researchers suggest that these proteins should be further studied as possible predictors of Alzheimer’s. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, more than 6 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia. The World Health Organization estimates that 70% of the 55 million dementia cases worldwide are due to Alzheimer’s. Treatments can help relieve symptoms of Alzheimer’s but there is, as yet, no...