Mayo Clinic scientists have developed a new method to predict Alzheimer’s risk decades before symptoms arise, using brain scans and genetics to estimate a person’s 10-year likelihood of developing memory and thinking problems. This breakthrough could significantly change the way Alzheimer’s is detected and treated in the future. The research, published in The Lancet Neurology, draws on decades of data from the Mayo Clinic Study of Aging, a long-running effort that tracks thousands of residents over time.
Led by Dr. Clifford Jack Jr., a radiologist at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, the team analyzed brain scans, genetics, and medical records from more than 5,800 adults to build a model that predicts both a person’s 10-year and lifetime risk of developing cognitive decline. Using specialized brain imaging to measure amyloid buildup, the researchers were able to gauge the ‘biological severity’ of Alzheimer’s in people who were still cognitively healthy. The results were expressed on a scale from 0 to 100, with a low number indicating little to no amyloid and a high number signaling significant buildup.
These findings underscore the importance of early detection and intervention in combating Alzheimer’s.