Research led by Pere Virgili Health Research Institute (IISPV), Pere Mata Institute University Hospital, Rovira i Virgili University (URV) of Tarragona and CIBER has made it possible to identify biomarkers to predict early cognitive decline in older people Have given. These six proteins are present in the blood.
These are six proteins present in the blood that have an “important role” in cognitive functions such as memory, attention or language skills, explained IISPV in a statement on Thursday, adding that the discovery could make it possible to more effectively to treat deficits in cognitive functions.
For this study published in ‘GeroScience’, proteins present in the blood of elderly people participating in the PREDITED-PLUS clinical trial (IISPV and URV), who were overweight or obese, “are associated with both risk factors for cardiovascular diseases and cognitive decline.” linked performance”.
Martà Laurador, the first signatory of the work, confirmed that it turns out that the levels of these proteins in the blood give information about the state of brain functioning, as “tests in the blood of people with low brain function”. Higher levels of six proteins identified (alpha-2-MRAP, hAGH, Siglec-9, MDGA1, IL12, and EDA2R).
“Based on results from previous studies by other researchers, we can hypothesize that, in part, these proteins come from the brain. Therefore, we are detecting brain malfunction in the blood,” he said.
Thus, he has explained that having mental capacity in a good state of health means “being able to concentrate on what is necessary, to retain in memory tasks that we must perform or to relate coherent and meaningful stories in daily affairs or other should be built.” aspect”.
These results are “pioneering” because the research used an innovative method of blood analysis, the proximity extension assay, which allows the amount of a large number of proteins in samples to be measured in the form of a single drop. Blood.
