Why some Alzheimer’s patients get worse faster
Lewy body pathology exacerbates brain hypometabolism and cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s disease
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Lewy body pathology wasn’t linked to higher levels of amyloid or tau—the two hallmark Alzheimer’s proteins.
Most people assume worse Alzheimer’s means more amyloid and tau—but here, patients with faster decline had the same Alzheimer’s protein levels as others. The damage came from a completely different protein: alpha-synuclein.
Practical Takeaways
If you or a loved one has Alzheimer’s and is declining faster than expected, ask the doctor for a CSF alpha-synuclein SAA test to check for Lewy body co-pathology.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Lewy body pathology wasn’t linked to higher levels of amyloid or tau—the two hallmark Alzheimer’s proteins.
Most people assume worse Alzheimer’s means more amyloid and tau—but here, patients with faster decline had the same Alzheimer’s protein levels as others. The damage came from a completely different protein: alpha-synuclein.
Practical Takeaways
If you or a loved one has Alzheimer’s and is declining faster than expected, ask the doctor for a CSF alpha-synuclein SAA test to check for Lewy body co-pathology.
Publication
Journal
Nature Communications
Year
2024
Authors
L. Collij, S. Mastenbroek, N. Mattsson‐Carlgren, O. Strandberg, Ruben Smith, S. Janelidze, S. Palmqvist, R. Ossenkoppele, Oskar Hansson
Related Content
Claims (6)
Scientists have found a blood test-like method that can detect a specific brain problem called Lewy body pathology in people with Alzheimer’s, and it’s accurate over 96% of the time — meaning it could help doctors spot this common brain issue without needing an autopsy.
People with Alzheimer’s who also have Lewy bodies don’t have more of the Alzheimer’s proteins (amyloid and tau) than those without Lewy bodies. Their faster mental decline is probably because the Lewy body proteins add extra damage on top, not because their Alzheimer’s is worse.
People who have both Alzheimer’s and another brain condition called Lewy bodies show more severe energy loss in certain back parts of the brain than people with just Alzheimer’s, which means the two conditions together might mess up brain function in unique ways.
People with Alzheimer’s who also have another brain condition called Lewy bodies tend to forget things and lose mental skills 15% faster than those with just Alzheimer’s. This was measured using standard memory and thinking tests.
People with Alzheimer’s who also have abnormal protein clumps called Lewy bodies tend to have worse memory, thinking, and language skills at the start of their diagnosis, compared to those with only Alzheimer’s changes in the brain.