Two newly developed diagnostic tools are set to significantly advance our expectations around determining arthritis and Alzheimer’s risk. Researchers from the Keck School of Medicine of USC announced that they’ve developed a blood test to identify early signs of Alzheimer’s disease by measuring proteins linked to the condition.

The new test, to be known simply as Penta-Plex Alzheimer’s Disease Capture Sandwich Immunoassay (5ADCSI), detects five biomarkers simultaneously, which is more than existing blood tests and runs on equipment commonly used in many laboratories. 

A proof-of-concept study, funded by the National Institutes of Health, was just published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease.

Scientists have found several reliable blood-based biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease. These proteins, including amyloid and tau, build up in the brain and blood as the disease progresses. A blood test for these proteins can help catch the disease in its earliest stages, when treatment might be able to prevent or delay cognitive decline.

Current tests expensive

Several tests exist, but they are expensive, rely on specialised equipment, and can only detect a few biomarkers at a time. By contrast, 5ADCSI can measure five key Alzheimer’s biomarkers and relies on xMAP^® technology, a widely available system from the biotechnology company Luminex.

“The biggest advantage is that our test is very cost-effective compared to other existing technologies, and it’s relatively easy to implement because many laboratories in universities, hospitals, and clinics are already using this technology,” said Ebrahim Zandi, PhD, associate professor of molecular microbiology and immunology at the Keck School of Medicine, who led the research.

Creating a low-cost test is critical because it could bring widespread annual screenings for Alzheimer’s disease within reach. Like cholesterol and blood sugar tests, 5ADCSI could identify patients who may benefit from medication or lifestyle changes, such as increased exercise, to prevent or slow Alzheimer’s.

“In the 10 to 20 years Alzheimer’s takes to develop, proteins such as amyloid and tau are slowly building up,” Zandi said. “If we have an affordable blood test that detects those proteins early on, we can start interventions long before symptoms begin.”

Zandi envisions widespread use of the test, especially because it relies on technology that is affordable and widely available, even outside the US. His long-term goal is to create a brain health risk assessment that pairs 5ADCSI with genetic testing for APOE4, the gene variant linked to Alzheimer’s disease, to help people understand their personal risk for the condition.

In another diagnostic test development, Dr. Ho Sang Jung and his research team from the Advanced Bio and Healthcare Materials Research Division at the Korea Institute of Materials Science (KIMS), in collaboration with Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, have developed a technology that enables the diagnosis of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis within 10 minutes using synovial fluid.

Arthritic conditions

According to some studies, over 50% of the population aged 65 and older experience symptoms of osteoarthritis, while rheumatoid arthritis is known to be a serious chronic disease that affects approximately 1 in 100 people over the course of their lifetime.

Although osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis may appear similar, they differ in both their causes and treatments, making accurate differentiation at the early diagnosis stage critically important. Until now, diagnosis has relied on X-rays, MRI scans, and blood tests, which are time-consuming, costly, and limited in accuracy.

Synovial fluid is contained in human joints. The research team focused on the differences in the composition of metabolites—byproducts of chemical processes occurring within the body—present in this fluid.

By analysing these metabolic differences, they developed a technology capable of distinguishing between osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis within 10 minutes, as well as assessing the severity of rheumatoid arthritis.

 “If this technology is commercialised, it will not only aid in diagnosis but also be highly useful in monitoring treatment progress.” Dr Ho Sang Jung said.