(July 21, 2009 - Insidermedicine) Levels of specific compounds in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of those with mild cognitive impairment can help predict who will develop Alzheimer’s disease, according to research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Here is some information about mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease:

•    Mild cognitive impairment is a condition in which individuals begin to have mild symptoms associated with Alzheimer’s

•    It is a stage between the normal decline in memory that occurs with aging and true Alzheimer’s

•    While many individuals with mild cognitive impairment go on to develop Alzheimer’s disease, some do not.

Researchers from the University of Gothenburg in Sweden followed over 1,500 patients with mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer’s disease, or no cognitive impairment to determine the degree to which levels of three compounds (Aß42, T-tau, and P-tau) measured in their CSF predicted who would develop Alzheimer’s.

Those with mild cognitive impairment who went on to develop Alzheimer’s were more likely to have lower levels of Aß42 and higher levels of T-tau and P-tau in their blood than those who did not develop the disease. A formula consisting of the ratio of Aß42/P-tau and T-tau levels could predict who would develop Alzheimer’s with an accuracy of 83%, but accuracy levels differed considerably from one study site to another.

Today’s research suggests that levels of compounds in the CSF can help predict who will develop Alzheimer’s disease, but techniques need to be standardized so that accuracy levels can become more consistent.

For Insidermedicine in Depth, I'm Dr. Susan Sharma.