A research of the University of Navarra concludes that some patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) will develop Alzheimer's disease in the future. The study, focused on the detection of early signs of the alteration, is based on an analysis multidisciplinary with data extracted from a sample of 300 individuals carried out at the University Clinic.

This work of doctorate, carried out by the scientist of research center Médica Aplicada (CIMA) Lluís Samaranch, supports the theory that most patients with MCI are in an intermediate phase that will lead to an acute disturbance. "However," clarifies the new doctor of the School of Sciences, "not all cases with mild impairment will develop the ailment."

To reach this conclusion, the team at the University Clinic's report Disorders Unit looked for early signs of the disease: "In addition to the neuropsychological and neuroimaging markers involved, our most important finding is the finding of PET - or positron emission tomography - as a very effective technique for measuring the risk of progression of MCI," stresses Dr. Pablo Martínez-Lage, director of the thesis .

Early detection to combat the disease

Under the degree scroll "Alzheimer's disease in the prodromal phase. cross-sectional analysis and identification of markers of progression to dementia in a prospective series of patients with mild cognitive impairment", this research multidisciplinary counted with the partnership of neuropsychologists, nurses and engineers.

A sample of 299 individuals were studied for more than 17 months. Of these, 103 suffered from mild cognitive impairment; 80 had subjective complaints of report; 62 suffered from Alzheimer's disease; and 54 belonged to the control group , composed of volunteers from the association de Donantes de Sangre de Navarra.

All underwent neuropsychological tests, MRI scans, analyses of various types and an examination of genetic risk markers, among other procedures. As a result, the team concluded that the disease can be identified in early stages before irreversible damage occurs, "although expensive techniques, such as PET, are required," warns Lluís Samaranch.

Therefore, they insist on the need to search for new biochemical markers that are more affordable and simpler but with the same predictive capacity: "This way we could carry out therapeutic interventions in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease, when there is a greater chance of success," says Dr. Martínez-Lage.