Test differentiates between different types of dementia

Test differentiates between different types of dementia

A new test differentiates between different types of dementia with up to 90 per cent accuracy, new research reveals.

The analysis, which involves placing a coil against a suspected patient's head, can tell the difference between an Alzheimer's disease or frontotemporal dementia sufferer with 90 percent reliability, a new study found.

Study author Dr Barbara Borroni, from the University of Brescia in Italy, said: 'Current [diagnosis] methods can be expensive brain scans or invasive lumbar punctures involving a needle inserted in the spine, so it's exciting that we may be able to make the diagnosis quickly and easily with this non-invasive procedure. 

'Doctors might soon be able to quickly and easily diagnose frontotemporal dementia with this non-inv asive procedure.' 

Frontotemporal dementia is thought to make up 10 to 15 percent of dementia cases. It is often initially misdiagnosed as a psychiatric problem, Alzheimer's disease or Parkinson's disease because of its broad range of symptoms.

A test differentiates between different dementia types with up to 90 per cent accuracy (stock)

WHAT IS FRONTOTEMPORAL DEMENTIA? 

Frontotemporal dementia affects the lobes of the brain behind the forehead.

These regions of the brain are involved in behaviour, problem solving, planning, emotion control and speech.

Frontotemporal dementia occurs when nerve cells in these brain lobes die and the pathways that connect them change.

Symptoms include speech problems, and a change in personality and behaviour.

There is no cure.

Treatment focuses on easing symptoms, for example through speech and language therapy.

Source: Alzheimer's UK  

How the research was carried out 

Researchers analysed 79 people with suspected Alzheimer's disease, 61 with probable frontotemporal dementia and 32 who showed no signs of dementia.

They placed a large electromagnetic coil, known as transcranial magnetic stimulation, against the study's participant's scalps. The coil creates electrical currents that stimulate nerve cells. 

The results were compared against brain scans or spinal fluid samples, which are the standard methods of diagnosis.

Key findings  

The results revealed that the coil distinguishes between Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal dementia with 90 per cent accuracy.

SNORING IS LINKED TO ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE: DIFFICULTY BREATHING WHEN ASLEEP ACCELERATES MEMORY DECLINE 

Snoring is linked to Alzheimer's disease, research suggested earlier this month.

Difficulty breathing while asleep accelerates memory decline in people at-risk of the condition, a study found.

Daytime sleepiness and sleep apnoea are also linked to impaired attention, memory and thinking in people who are genetically susceptible to the degenerative condition, the research adds.

Researcher s hope the findings will support sleep-based treatments in people at-risk of developing Alzheimer's.

Study author Dr Susan Redline from Harvard University, said: 'Given the lack of effective treatment for Alzheimer's disease, our results support the potential for sleep-disordered breathing screening and treatment as part of a strategy to reduce dementia risk.' 

It can tell the difference between the brain of an Alzheimer's disease sufferer and a healthy person with 87 percent reliability, and that of a frontotemporal dementia patient and a non-dementia sufferer with 86 percent certainty.

The coil works to detect nerve cell activity as people with Alzheimer's disease tend to have problems with one particular type of brain circuit, while those with frontotemporal dementia are affected by a different type of dysfunction. 

The findings were published in the journal Neurology.

'This disease can't be cured, but it can be managed - if it is caught early'

Dr Borroni said: 'Making the correct diagnosis can be difficult.

'Current methods can be expensive brain scans or invasive lumbar punctures involving a needle inserted in the spine, so it's exciting that we may be able to make the diagnosis quickly and easily with this non-invasive procedure.

'If our results can be replicated with larger studies, this will be very exciting.

'Doctors might soon be able to quickly and easily diagnose frontotemporal dementia with this non-invasive procedure. 

'This disease unfortunately can't be cured, but it can be managed - especia lly if it is caught early.'

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