Novel Method Able to Predict if, When, Dementia Will Develop
Kudos, Caveats
In a release from the Science Media Center, a nonprofit organization promoting voices and views of the scientific community, Sebastian Walsh, National Institute for Health and Care Research doctoral fellow in Public Health Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, England, said the results are “potentially exciting,” and he praised the way the team conducted the study.
However, he noted some caveats, including the small sample size, with only about 100 people with dementia, and the relatively short time between the brain scan and diagnosis (an average of 3.7 years).
Dr. Walsh emphasized the importance of replicating the findings “in bigger samples with a much longer delay between scan and onset of cognitive symptoms.”
He also noted the average age of study participants was 70 years, whereas the average age at which individuals in the United Kingdom develop dementia is mid to late 80s, “so we need to see these results repeated for more diverse and older samples.”
He also noted that MRI scans are expensive, and the approach used in the study needs “a high-quality scan which requires people to keep their head still.”
Also commenting, Andrew Doig, PhD, professor, Division of Neuroscience, the University of Manchester, Manchester, England, said the MRI connectivity method used in the study might form part of a broader diagnostic approach.
“Dementia is a complex condition, and it is unlikely that we will ever find one simple test that can accurately diagnose it,” Dr. Doig noted. “Within a few years, however, there is good reason to believe that we will be routinely testing for dementia in middle-aged people, using a combination of methods, such as a blood test, followed by imaging.”
“The MRI connectivity method described here could form part of this diagnostic platform. We will then have an excellent understanding of which people are likely to benefit most from the new generation of dementia drugs,” he said.
Dr. Marshall and Dr. Walsh reported no relevant disclosures. Dr. Doig reported that he is a founder, shareholder, and consultant for PharmaKure Ltd, which is developing new diagnostics for neurodegenerative diseases using blood biomarkers.
A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.
