Study shows changes in early Alzheimer's signs in the brain over 20 years.

Scientists have discovered new clues about how Alzheimer's disease develops in the brain long before any symptoms are noticeable. They conducted a 20-year study in China, where they monitored adults with brain scans and other tests to observe the disease's progression. The study found that people who developed Alzheimer's had higher levels of a certain protein in their spinal fluid almost two decades before diagnosis. This suggests a sequence of changes occurs in the brain leading up to the disease. Alzheimer's disease involves the build-up of beta-amyloid protein, which forms plaques in the brain. However, not everyone with these plaques will have memory problems, suggesting other factors also play a role in the disease. The findings from this study are considered very important for future research on treating and possibly preventing Alzheimer's. Knowing when these brain changes begin could help in testing new treatments. Currently, there is no cure for Alzheimer's, but a new drug called Leqembi shows promise by slowing the disease's progression. Researchers are also trying to find ways to treat people at high risk for Alzheimer's before symptoms start, focusing on problematic proteins like amyloid and tau.