Currently, there's no known way to prevent Alzheimer's disease,[1] which affects more than 5 million Americans and is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States.


But a new study has identified what may be the earliest known biomarker [2] associated with the risk of developing Alzheimer's. Indeed, this potential biomarker appears to be present in cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) at least a decade before signs of Alzheimer's first appear.


"If our initial findings can be replicated by other laboratories, the results will change the way we currently think about the causes of Alzheimer's disease," said Dr. Ramon Trullas, [3] research professor at the CSIC Institute of Biomedical Research of Barcelona [4] and lead author of the study that was published in Annals of Neurology, [5] in a press release. "This discovery may enable us to search for more effective treatments that can be administered during the preclinical stage."


The identification of biomarkers [6] is increasingly important. Finding an ideal biomarker could help distinguish Alzheimer's from other types of dementia. And this is key because treatment for these various forms of dementia could differ.


The CSIC researchers showed that a decrease in the amount of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) [7] in CSF may indicate Alzheimer's; furthermore, there may be a real cause-effect relationship. The hypothesis is that decreased mtDNA levels in CSF reflect the diminished ability of mitochondria -- or the energy factories of the cell -- to power the brain's neurons, causing their death. The decrease in the concentration of mtDNA precedes the appearance of well-known biochemical Alzheimer's biomarkers (the Aβ1-42, t-tau, and p-tau proteins), [8] suggesting that the progression of Alzheimer's starts earlier than previously thought and that mtDNA depletion may be one of the earliest signs of the disease.


In addition to helping with an investigation of the potential cause-effect relationship of mtDNA and Alzheimer's progression, the use of mtDNA as an indicator of Alzheimer's is better than the use of previous biochemical markers: the detection of this novel nucleic acid biomarker isn't hindered by the technical difficulties associated with other markers, Trullas said.


Trullas said he hopes that other laboratories and hospitals will successfully replicate the research results, confirming that reduced mtDNA levels should be investigated as a possible cause of Alzheimer's disease. By finding a way to block this degeneration, clinicians may be able to diagnose and treat Alzheimer's disease before symptoms appear, he added.


When it comes to Alzheimer's research, more good news emerged earlier this year when researchers at Utah State University discovered that the progression of decline in brain functioning among Alzheimer's patients may be dramatically slowed if caregivers simply change the patient's environment.

[9]



Earlier on HuffPost50:




Loading Slideshow...



  • Make Your Meals A Rainbow


    That doesn't mean you should pour out a bag of Skittles at each meal. Try to eat foods of a variety of natural colors to gain antioxidants, said Dr. Amen.




  • Avoid These Fruits


    Just because something is a fruit, doesn't mean you should chow down on it, according to Dr. Daniel Amen, author of "Use Your Brain To Change Your Age." For brain health, Dr. Amen recommends food with a low glycemic index -- which measures how quickly food increases blood sugar -- and a lot of fiber, which benefits your intestinal tract. Certain fruit like pineapple and watermelon have high glycemic indexes and should be avoided, advises Dr. Amen. Instead, incorporate fruits like blueberries, apples, oranges, cherries, kiwi, strawberries and raspberries. When it comes to fiber, consider adding coconut to your diet. <em>Correction: In a previous version of this slide, "blood pressure" was incorrectly inserted where "blood sugar" is.</em>




  • You Need Fat


    Don't eliminate all of the fat in your diet. Instead, focus on incorporating good fats. In fact, if your cholesterol drops too low, you may be at greater risk for depression, according to Amen <a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-breakthrough-depression-solution/201106/low-cholesterol-and-its-psychological-effects" target="_hplink"> and several studies on low cholesterol</a>.

    So what exactly are "good fats"? Dr. Amen advises people to eat foods rich in omega-3s to promote brain health, including almonds, walnuts, brazil nuts, fish, lamb, avocados and green leafy vegetables.

    Another added benefit of eating good fats? "Your vitamins are actually absorbed better when you eat them with a little bit of fat," said Dr. Amen.




  • Choose Your Meat Wisely


    While you generally want to avoid bad fats, if you choose to eat steak, "you want to go with grass-fed, hormone-free, free-range meats" rather than grain-fed meats, said Dr. Amen. "When you feed the animals the high-glycemic foods, they actually produce less of the good fat and more of the bad fat. So they're not as good for you."

    In other words, what your food eats affects your health too, according to Dr. Amen.

    <em>Photo courtesy of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdid/" target="_hplink">mdid</a></em>




  • Herbs And Spices Don't Just Add Flavor


    Next time you're whipping up some grub, turn to your spice rack for an extra brain boost. Spices and herbs may do more for your health than you realize. According to Dr. Amen, cinnamon balances blood sugar; garlic, oregano and rosemary increase blood flow to the brain; curry acts as an anti-inflammatory; and saffron can have anti-depressant effects.

    <em>Photo courtesy of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/spence_sir/" target="_hplink">S. Diddy</a></em>




  • Pour Out That Juice


    Next time you're craving a cold glass of juice with your breakfast, think again. "Juice is sugar that is unwrapped from its fiber source, and whenever you unwrap sugar from its fiber source, it can turn toxic in your body," said Dr. Amen.

    <em>Photo courtesy of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mamchenkov/" target="_hplink">Leonid Mamchenkov</a></em>




  • What You Eat For Breakfast Matters


    You may be dreaming about that delicious breakfast muffin all night, but you should probably steer clear of the breakfast pastries. "There's way too much bad fat and sugar," said Dr. Amen. Instead, he recommends a protein-heavy breakfast like a few boiled eggs, nuts and an apple. While Dr. Amen suggests eating lean protein at each meal, he believes it is "especially important in the morning because it helps you focus," he said.

    <em>Photo courtesy of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15216811@N06/" target="_hplink">Nicola since 1972</a></em>




  • Find Supportive Friends


    The last thing you need when you're trying to eat healthy are friends who try to coerce you to be unhealthy. "You have to deal with the food pushers in your life because they'll steal your health," said Dr. Amen. "The health of the people you spend time with will often determine your longevity."

    Make sure your friends understand and support your decision to eat healthier, and try to find other people who who are on the same healthy path as you.




  • Related Video: Nutrition And Brain Health