FunGen-AD investigator Carlos Cruchaga was part of a team that identified a unique biomarker that could lead to new diagnostic tests able to detect Alzheimer’s disease before symptoms appear. Levels of this protein in cerebrospinal fluid can reliably detect damage to the cells lining tiny blood vessels in the brain in Alzheimer’s disease. Blood vessel injury is an important contributor to cognitive impairment in even the earliest presymptomatic stages of the disease.
The research was partially supported by FunGen-AD grant RF1AG058501 and published in Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology here.
You can read more about the research findings at the following links:
- UNM researcher identifies new biomarker of early-stage Alzheimer’s disease (University of New Mexico Health Sciences Newsroom)
- Researcher identifies new biomarker of early-stage Alzheimer’s disease (Medical Xpress)
- Researcher identifies new biomarker of early-stage Alzheimer’s disease (Public News Time)