New research could change the future of Alzheimer's disease - Fox News

This transcript is automatically generated

ACCORDING TO C.R.E.

PCHLTC.

R.E..

NOW, SOME GOOD NEWS.

RESEARCHERS MAY BE CLOSING IN ON A WAY TO DETECT ONE OF HUMANITY'S MOST INSIDIOUS AND HIGH PROFILE DISEASES.

JOHN ROBERTS FILLS US IN FROM ATLANTA.

>> Reporter: IT IS THE CRUELEST OF DISEASES, SLOWLY ROBBING PATIENTS OF THEIR MEMORIES, PERSONALITY AND ULTIMATELY THEIR LIVES.

NO CURE AND NO EFFECTIVE TREATMENT.

NEW RESEARCH AT JOHN HOPKINS COULD CHANGE THE FUTURE FOR MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE YET TO DEVELOP ALZHEIMER'S.

>> WE WERE ABLE TO PREDICT POTENTIAL CAUSE OF DECLINE ABOUT SIX YEARS BEFORE IT BEGAN TO DEVELOP.

>> Reporter: THE HOPKINS TEAM TESTED CEREBRAL SPINAL FLUID IN 260 MIDDLE AGE PEOPLE WHO HAD A HISTORY BUT SHOWED NO SYMPTOMS AND ASSOCIATED WITH THE PLAQUES AND TANGLES THAT DECIMATE THE BRAIN AND FOUND THEY COULD PREDICT WITH AMAZING ACCURACY WHO WOULD GO ON TO DEVELOP ALZHEIMER'S YEARS LATER.

>> IN THE FUTURE, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE AIMING FOR, YOU COULD HAVE A TEST DONE AND TAKE A DRUG THAT WOULD REDUCE YOUR RISK FOR DEVELOPING SYMPTOMS AND KEEP YOU NORMAL AS LONG AS POSSIBLE.

>> Reporter: CURRENTLY IN THE U.S., 5.2 MILLION PEOPLE SUFFER FROM ALZHEIMER'S.

THAT NUMBER IS EXPECTED TO TRIPLE BY 2050.

THIS YEAR, THE DIRECT COST FOR CARING FOR THEM WILL TOP $320 BILLION, INCLUDING MORE THAN $100 BILLION TO MEDICARE.

>> EVERYTHING -- >> Reporter: A PREDICTIVE TEST THAT COULD ALLOW EARLY INTERVENTION COULD BE GROUND BREAKING SAYS DR.

WILLIAM HU, AN ALZHEIMER'S SPECIALIST AT THE EMORY CLINIC.

>> IF WE CAN DELAY ALZHEIMER'S BY FIVE YEARS, WE CAN REDUCE THE PREVALENCE BY ABOUT HALF AND HALF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE NOW ESSENTIALLY CURED.

>> Reporter: ONE PROBLEM, THERE ARE NO DRUGS AT PRESENT THAT EFFECTIVELY TREAT THE PLAQUES AND TANGLES ALTHOUGH NEW ONES ARE IN THE PIPELINES AND WOULD ALLOW DOCTORS TO USE OTHER THERAPY.

EXERCISE, DIET AND BRAIN TRAINING TO KEEP THE MIND AS HEALTHY AS POSSIBLE UNTIL PHARMACEUTICALS CATCH UP.

IT REINFORCES THINKING ALZHEIMER'S HAS THREE STAGES INCLUDING ONE WHERE PEOPLE APPEAR ABSOLUTELY HEALTHY.

IDENTIFYING PATIENTS IN THAT EARLIER STAGE COULD BE A GAME CHANGER.

>> JOHN, THANK YOU.

DO YOU THINK SCIENTISTS WILL BE SUCCESSFUL ON THIS EFFORT? LET ME KNOW, ON TWITTER YOU CAN FOLLOW ME AT BRET BAIER.