Scientists Find “Critical” New Brain Scan That Can Spot Alzheimer’s Early
It’s a groundbreaking step forward, but these scans are also showing that the disease develops differently in Black patients.
What if there was a way to detect if you or a loved one has Alzheimer’s disease before symptoms even start? That’s what health experts across the U.S. are trying to find—and they’re racing against the clock.
Since 2012, researchers from dozens of universities across the country have been working on The Health & Aging Brain Study – Health Disparities (HABS-HD), the largest and most comprehensive study of the biological, medical, environmental, and social factors of Alzheimer’s and how it affects diverse communities. Currently, Black adults are disproportionately burdened with the disease, and by 2060, Hispanics are expected to experience the greatest increase.
But now, a new brain scan discovered during HABS-HD research may help doctors catch Alzheimer’s earlier in many patients before it chips away at their memory and cognitive abilities. Here’s exactly what the new brain scan is showing and how it may soon revolutionize your future care.
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Brain Scan Can Detect Alzheimer’s Signs Early
In a new study published in the journal Imaging Neuroscience, researchers from the Keck School of Medicine of USC found that the buildup of tau protein, a key driver of cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s patients, can be seen in a “Tau PET” brain scan—indicating the likelihood of a patient to develop the disease.
The scan uses a small amount of radioactive tracer to illuminate areas of the brain that have tau, which have been closely connected to memory loss and other symptoms of cognitive decline. Warm colors of yellow, orange, and red signal more tau, whereas cooler colors like green and blue show less tau.
In the study, when the tau buildup crossed a certain threshold, the researchers considered the patient to be more at risk for Alzheimer’s disease. And this “cut-point” proved to be an effective method.
“Our tau cut-point was able to distinguish whether study participants had cognitive impairment—but only when another abnormal protein, amyloid, was also present,” said Dr. Meredith N. Braskie, the study’s senior author and an assistant professor of neurology at USC.
Still, the findings are significant, and “a key step toward defining tau positivity for both research and clinical applications,” said lead author Victoria R. Tennant, a PhD candidate in USC’s Neuroscience Graduate Program.
But Only In Hispanic and White Patients
While the brain scan’s ability to detect signs of Alzheimer’s early is very promising, the researchers discovered a major issue: The scan only worked in Hispanic and non-Hispanic White participants.
For non-Hispanic Black participants, tau buildup that crossed the threshold didn’t reliably signal Alzheimer’s risk.
“This suggests that other pathologies or conditions may be driving cognitive decline in this group,” Braskie explained, according to Science Daily.
This discrepancy is a crucial development. It’s helping the scientific community understand why different populations can develop Alzheimer’s in unique ways—and why the disease can’t be treated the same in all patients.
“This type of imaging is critical for understanding who is at risk and how the disease develops,” said Dr. Arthur W. Toga, director of USC’s Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute. “We hope this work will lead to more personalized care and better outcomes for all communities.”
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What This Means for You
While it’s an exciting step forward in Alzheimer’s research, this new study revealed a major limitation. Clearly, there’s more work to be done before this brain scan method becomes an adopted practice throughout the U.S.
The study authors are urging for more research, including a closer look at current diagnostic tools that may not be taking into account the racial disparities in Alzheimer’s development.
That said, as more groundbreaking revelations like this are made by HABS-HD, the diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease in America will continue to improve. That means the tests performed by your doctor are on the verge of getting better, more accurate, and more precise.
