New Test Uses Saliva To Predict Alzheimer’s Development

A simple saliva test could help predict an individual’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease (AD)—even those who do not have any cognitive issues—according to a recent study.

For the study, researchers evaluated saliva samples of 35 patients with normal cognitive function, 25 participants with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and 22 patients with AD using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LCMS).
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Through the LCMS findings, researchers identified compounds that were more significant in patients with MCI and AD compared to patients with normal cognitive function.

In a further sample, researchers examined 7 AD patients, 10 MCI patients, and 10 individuals with normal cognitive function. The findings showed that greater levels of compounds displayed in the saliva were linked to worse cognitive function, including worse episodic memory performance and slower speed in information processing.

“Saliva is easily obtained, safe and affordable, and has promising potential for predicting and tracking cognitive decline, but we’re in the very early stages of this work and much more research is needed,” said Shraddha Sapkota, MSc, an author of the study and neuroscience graduate student at the University of Alberta, Canada.

“Equally important is the possibility of using saliva to find targets for treatment to address the metabolic component of Alzheimer’s, which is still not well understood. This study brings us closer to solving that mystery,” she concluded.

The complete study was presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference 2015 in Washington, D.C.

-Michelle Canales Butcher

Reference:

Alzheimer’s Association International Conference. Researchers report new ways to predict the development of Alzheimer’s disease. July 2015. www.alz.org/aaic/releases_2015/Sun-8amET.asp. Accessed July 21, 2015.