Blood Test May Predict Rate of Alzheimer's Progression

Summary: Scientists may be able to predict how rapidly patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease will lose cognitive function. How is this possible? By examining levels of certain fats in blood through a blood test. Past research already showed that the disease progresses differently in different patients. One third don't decline at all in five years, one third fall moderately, and the remaining third decline relatively rapidly. The results showed that patients that had higher levels of plasma sphingomyelins and the lower the level of ceramides, the slower the progression of the disease. Researchers speculate that inhibiting the enzyme could be used to slow the process of breaking sphingomyelins into ceramids. This would slow the rate that cells dies and might even stop the disease from progressing. Researchers warn that more studies need to be done to confirm that the blood-fat test will work.

Critique: I think that this is amazing. There has been a lot of groundbreaking research in cancer treatments lately and I think that if all of the researchers really work hard on what they have been studying, then the cure for cancer could be developed relatively soon.

Impact: Right now there aren't any effective treatments for the delay or prevention of Alzheimer's. This could potentially save millions of lives if handled the right way.

Reference: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2011/10/03/blood-test-may-predict-rate-alzheimers/