Blood-Based Biomarkers for Memory Loss

OVERVIEW

Georgetown researchers have discovered several biomarkers, including but not limited to lipids, metabolites, genes, and proteins in the blood, that can predict with close to 100% accuracy if a healthy person will develop mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Existing preclinical biomarkers of AD are obtained either through time-consuming and expensive neuroimaging modalities or via invasive and risky lumbar punctures for cerebrospinal fluid analyses. The present invention has the potential for a powerful blood test to identify people at risk for progressive cognitive decline. Further, the novel method can potentially be used in selecting individuals for secondary prevention trials and to provide clues for targeted therapeutic interventions.

BACKGROUND

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects memory and cognitive abilities in older adults. It is expected to become more common over time. Unfortunately, there is currently no cure for AD, and available treatments cannot slow down the disease's progression. Detecting AD early, when individuals are at risk or in the early stages of symptoms (known as preclinical or prodromal stages, or mild cognitive impairment, MCI), could provide chances for better therapeutic interventions or even prevention of the disease.

Benefit

• Can predict among cognitive normal who will progress to disease
• Minimally invasive (as opposed to lumbar puncture)
• Low cost (low tech, as opposed to neuroimaging)
• Quick, familiar, and easily tolerated by most individuals
• These biomarkers define the asymptomatic period in patients and are critical for the successful development and application of the therapeutics.
• The preclinical state of the disease offers a window of opportunity for timely disease-modifying intervention.

Market Application

• Useful as a clinical indicator of the stage of the disease
• Biomarkers can be used to differentiate AD from Frontotemporal Dementia.
• The technology can accurately identify people at risk for progressive cognitive decline and be of value in terms of having the individuals, their families, and treating physicians plan for and manage the disorder.
• The technology can potentially be used for developing treatment strategies for Alzheimer’s at an earlier stage when therapy would be more effective at slowing or preventing the onset of symptoms.
• Useful for identifying patients for secondary prevention trials.

Publications

• US Patent No.10,718,021
• “Plasma phospholipids identify antecedent memory impairment in older adults”. Nature Medicine, April 2014; 20 (4): 415-8.https://doi.org/10.1038/nm.3466
• “Plasma 24-metabolite Panel Predicts Preclinical Transition to Clinical Stages of Alzheimer’s Disease” Front. Neurol., November 2015;https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2015.00237
• The critical need for defining preclinical biomarkers in Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimers Dement. 2014 Jun;10(3 Suppl):S196-212.doi: 10.1016/j.jalz.2014.04.015. PMID: 24924671.