JCU role in test for disease

IT is hoped a new research breakthrough by a James Cook University researcher will lead to an early diagnostic test for Alzheimer’s disease.

Researcher Dr Brandon Mahan worked with a team of French researchers at the Université de Paris, Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris who compared brains with and without Alzheimer’s to discover what factors made them different.

“Our study is the first time it has clearly been shown that healthy human brains and Alzheimer’s brains have these different isotopic signatures,” he said. “Specifically, they have different copper and zinc isotope compositions, which also correlate with the progression of the disease.”

Currently, Alzheimer’s is often diagnosed through brain scans used to detect lesions that typically occur after the disease has significantly advanced. However the first stages of the disease can occur decades earlier.

“By uncovering this isotopic difference in brain tissues of humans, the hope is that eventually this will lead to a non-invasive and early diagnostic indicator for Alzheimer’s,” Dr Mahan said. “It’s possible it could be as simple as a blood test.”

Dr Mahan said it was anticipated that these changes in brain isotopic composition will be mirrored in body fluids, which may allow for the development of blood diagnostics.

He said this breakthrough was particularly important with our ageing population.

“Alzheimer’s creates a massive emotional, social and financial burden on society,” he said. “That’s why finding a way to diagnose the disease early, and with non-invasive testing, is so important.”