Could leukocytes be the key to finding a blood test for Alzheimer’s disease?

In a biomarker study led by Paul Coleman from Arizona State University–Banner Neurodegenerative Disease Research Center (AZ, USA), RNA transcripts have shown potential as diagnostic markers of Alzheimer’s disease. In collaboration with University of Rochester (NY, USA), Banner Alzheimer Institute (AZ, USA) and Barrow Neurological Institute (AZ, USA), Coleman led researchers in analysis of RNA transcripts from leukocytes taken from 177 blood and 27 post-mortem brain samples. Using cDNA and RT-PCR methods to measure levels of five transcripts, researchers were able to distinguish Alzheimer’s disease from normal controls with an accuracy of 93.8%. Employing an innovative study design with multiple...