Korean researchers find new way to predict risk of Alzheimer's disease

내가 치매에 걸릴 확률은?...새 치매 예측법 개발
Alzheimer's disease is difficult to treat, so it's best to catch it early.
Now, Korean researchers have found a way to predict one's risk of the disease …even before symptoms appear.
Park Se-young has more.
For years, this elderly woman has been forgetting certain words and concepts.
When she went to the doctor for a cognitive test, her scores were normal.
However, MRI images of her brain showed a buildup of beta amyloid proteins, which is known as a cause of Alzheimer's disease.
The proteins cause a deterioration of the precuneus, part of the brain involved in memory tasks, …but the brain's temporal lobes become stimulated to make up for the loss of function …which is why the cognitive test scores come out normal.
Researchers say an analysis of functional changes in the brain can help predict the risk of Alzheimer's disease before symptoms appear.

(Korean)
"We found that temporal lobes become activated to make up for loss in memory functions. Such analysis can predict the probability of mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's by about 94 percent."

The result of this new test pointed to a 50-percent likelihood of Alzheimer's for the elderly woman.
As for prevention, the researchers stressed the importance of exercise and memory training.
Park Se-young, Arirang News.

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