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Alzheimer's disease takes years to develop before its symptoms become clinically apparent. According to experts, however, there are easily identifiable factors in the development of this disease - on their basis, it is possible to assess who is most at risk. The list of these factors was presented in the article summarizing the results of the new study.
The question of what factors are associated with the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease in the several years preceding the onset of its symptoms has been troubled by neurologists for a long time. Knowing them could significantly improve early prophylaxis in patients who would be classified as at risk.
To isolate them, a multidisciplinary team of scientists participating in the Aramis Paris Brain Institute project analyzed the medical data of nearly 80,000 people. patients consulted by GPs in France and Great Britain, listed in the THIN® database. The team gained access to the data of almost 40 thousand. patients with Alzheimer's disease and a similar number of people who did not develop neurodegenerative diseases in the analyzed period (they constituted the control group).
Using mathematical modeling, the team tested possible links between the development of Alzheimer's disease and 123 he alth factors. From this, researchers identified the 10 most common pathologies reported by patients who developed Alzheimer's disease over the next 15 years.
The list of the 10 most common diseases and pathologies experienced by people who subsequently developed Alzheimer's disease included:
- depression
- anxiety
- severe chronic stress
- hearing loss
- constipation
- cervical spondyloarthritis (discopathy)
- memory loss
- fatigue
- falls
- sudden weight loss.
As the press release reads: "The analysis confirmed known associations such as hearing problems or depression, and other lesser-known factors or early symptoms such as cervical spondylosis or constipation. However, we are only reporting statistical associations. had to be the subject of further research to understand the underlying mechanisms of the disease, 'says the researcherThomas Nedelec from the Aramis team. “The question remains whether the he alth problems encountered are risk factors, symptoms or warning signs of the disease. ".
Experts say the results of this study, already at this stage, may be of value to all those involved in the prevention of Alzheimer's disease, because if detected early enough, they can help delay the development of symptoms of the disease. Researchers plan to extend research to other diseases, including degenerative diseases, including Parkinson's disease, Charcot's disease and multiple sclerosis.