2024 Alzheimer's Association Research Fellowship to Promote Diversity (AARF-D)
Bioactive Lipids, Cognitive Phenotypes, and Cognitive Function
Could a new blood test help identify people at risk of cognitive decline before symptoms appear?
Chirag Vyas, M.D.
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, MA - United States
Background
Research shows that brain changes linked to Alzheimer’s may occur decades before clinical symptoms appear. Some individuals develop mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a state of more subtle memory loss, before developing dementia, including Alzheimer’s. However, not all individuals with MCI progress to dementia, and it can be difficult to discern who is likely to have further disease progression.
Previous research by Dr. Chirag Vyas and others suggests certain small molecules circulating in a person’s blood, known as “bioactive lipids” or BALs, may be associated with different cognitive states. Researchers may be able to measure BALs in a person’s blood to help identify individuals at an increased risk for progression to MCI or dementia, including Alzheimer’s, before other symptoms appear. This could support earlier intervention and treatment.
Research Plan
In their current study, Dr. Vyas’s team will determine which BALs might be most useful in distinguishing people with MCI versus those who have no detectable cognitive impairment. The researchers will leverage blood samples and cognitive data collected as part of an existing clinical trial of older adults.
First, the researchers will measure levels of more than 10,000 BALs in the blood samples. They will then compare the BAL measurements to cognitive test results collected from the participants. This will allow Dr. Vyas to identify signature patterns of BALs that are associated with MCI.
In the second part of the study, Dr. Vyas will test whether BAL measurements are associated with patterns of cognitive decline. The researchers will compare BAL levels and cognitive test results collected at the start of the study to those collected from participants two years later. They will look for changes in certain BALs that occur in individuals who experienced significant cognitive changes. Dr. Vyas’ goal is to identify novel BALs that are most strongly associated with cognitive decline later on. Dr. Vyas will also measure other molecules in the blood samples to determine if and how BAL changes might affect other biological pathways that often underlie MCI.
Impact
This study could represent a new way to identify people at highest risk of developing MCI or dementia, including Alzheimer’s. It’s possible that measuring BALs through a simple blood test might help predict a person’s risk of cognitive decline, or that certain BALs might represent early risk factors for MCI or Alzheimer’s. Early detection helps support conversations about care and treatment discussions.