New sign of Alzheimer’s appears up to 25 years before the disease; know which

According to researchers at University College London (UCL), future patients may show a specific sign of Alzheimer’s during their 40s, or up to 25 years before showing any symptoms of the disease.

Scientists carried out tests of orientation skills using virtual reality helmets. In the end, they found that people at the highest risk of dementia had the worst outcomes.

What is the first sign of Alzheimer’s?

According to the study, getting lost while walking, having difficulty understanding the space in question, could be the first sign of Alzheimer’s disease.

With the tests carried out, researchers noted that mobility challenges can manifest years or even decades before other symptoms of the disease, providing an early diagnosis.

“Knowing this will hopefully help people get a more timely and accurate diagnosis,” said study author Dr Coco Newton from the UCL Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience.

Early diagnosis of the disease may be essential, especially if the anti-Alzheimer’s drugs lecanemab and donanemab are approved, as they are more effective in eliminating toxic clumps of amyloid in the brain during the early stages of the disease.

However, scientists warn that these revolutionary medications may actually cause a reduction in the size of patients’ brains and be harmful.

Other warning signs of the disease

With their findings, UCL researchers hope to develop a diagnostic tool to help identify Alzheimer’s.

Alzheimer’s disease will affect everyone differently, but there are some common early symptoms to watch for in your loved ones, including:

• memory problems;
• reasoning problems;
• mood changes.

Future of research

“One in three people born today will develop dementia. The initial symptoms end up being subtle and difficult to detect. But problems with navigation are considered some of the earliest changes in Alzheimer’s disease,” said Dr. Richard Oakley, associate director of research and innovation at the Alzheimer’s Society.

He also highlights that more work is needed to develop this technology, but it will be exciting to see how this research can be applied to help people living with dementia in the future.