Treatment for Alzheimer’s has increased to 11 with a new spinal tap test to detect early signs of dementia, allowing for rapid drug therapy
- Almost a million Britons suffer from dementia, with Alzheimer’s being the most common
- A pilot spinal tap study correctly identifies 90 percent of dementia cases
- Earlier treatment can delay the devastating effects of dementia on patients
A spinal tap test to detect early-stage Alzheimer’s could soon be introduced by the NHS, giving time for a radical new treatment to begin.
Almost a million Britons suffer from dementia – with Alzheimer’s being the most common form – which damages the brain and leads to memory loss, confusion and behavioral changes.
A spinal tap, currently undergoing a pilot study, uses a long needle to remove fluid from the spinal cord and has been shown to correctly identify 90 per cent of dementia cases, and experts believe it’s quicker than the NHS’ traditional screening tools for memory tests and brain scans.
Although the procedure, also known as a spinal tap, can be painful, experts say the results could be worthwhile as it will allow doctors to offer anti-dementia drugs in the earliest stages of the disease, when they are most effective.
A spinal tap, currently undergoing a pilot study, uses a long needle to remove fluid from the spinal cord and has been shown to correctly identify 90 per cent of dementia cases, and experts believe it’s quicker than the NHS’ traditional screening tools for memory tests and brain scans
Early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s is also crucial for a breakthrough new drug, lecanemab, which has been found to slow the progression of the disease by almost a third and could be available from the NHS next year.
Alzheimer’s is thought to be caused by a buildup of amyloid, a toxic protein in the brain. Lecanemab, given by injection every two weeks, has been shown to bind to and destroy amyloid, slowing the progression of the disease. But currently only one in 20 Alzheimer’s patients is said to be able to benefit from the drug because many are diagnosed too late to be effective.
While most Alzheimer’s diagnoses in the UK are made using memory tests, many countries already use spinal tap. This looks for deposits of amyloid in the spinal fluid, as well as another protein, tau, which is suspected of being linked to Alzheimer’s. However, many patients refuse the test because of side effects, which can include headaches, swelling, and persistent back pain.
“This test is cheap, effective and used all over the world, so it’s odd that it’s not used in the NHS,” says Professor Dag Aarsland, Head of Geriatric Psychiatry at King’s College London. “Detecting the disease early is always crucial, but it will be particularly important with this new drug.
While most Alzheimer’s diagnoses in the UK are made using memory tests, many countries already use spinal tap
“The sooner Alzheimer’s is found, the more brain needs to be saved.”
Researchers at King’s College London are now conducting a pilot study that will analyze the feasibility of introducing the spinal tap test – developed by medical company Roche – to the NHS.
“We want to know whether the patients are satisfied with it and whether the doctors are satisfied with it,” says Prof. Aarsland. “If lecanemab is approved it is imperative that it be adopted across the NHS.”