"Pre-dementia Stage 'Subjective Cognitive Decline' Predictable Through Blood Test"

Professor Kim Woo-jung of Yongin Severance and Professor Kim Geun-yu of Boramae Hospital Team
Confirm Usefulness of 'Amyloid-Beta Aggregation Test'

Professor Woojung Kim (left) from the Department of Psychiatry at Yonsei University College of Medicine, Yongin Severance Hospital, and Professor Geunyu Kim from the Department of Psychiatry at Boramae Hospital.

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] A blood test useful for predicting 'Subjective Cognitive Decline (SCD),' known to appear before mild cognitive impairment, the pre-stage of dementia, has been discovered by Korean researchers.

Professor Kim Woo-jung of the Department of Psychiatry at Yonsei University College of Medicine, Yongin Severance Hospital, and Professor Kim Geun-yoo's team from the Department of Psychiatry at Boramae Hospital announced on the 21st that subjective cognitive decline can be predicted through the 'Amyloid-beta Aggregation Test.'

Subjective cognitive decline is known to appear several years before mild cognitive impairment and is being considered as a candidate for future dementia drug clinical trial subjects. However, the definition, long-term course, or prognosis of subjective cognitive decline is not yet clear, and domestic and international research to clarify this is ongoing.

The research team collected blood, brain MRI, amyloid PET, and neuropsychological test results from about 160 elderly people aged 60 to 79 living in Yongin City. In particular, the blood samples collected with the voluntary consent of the elderly were analyzed using the 'Amyloid-beta Aggregation (MDS-OAβ)' test kit based on PeopleBio's multimer detection system technology. Two self-reported cognitive decline scales, SCD-Q and MAC-Q, were used to assess subjective cognitive decline.

The study found that even elderly individuals with normal neurocognitive test results showed higher levels of amyloid-beta aggregation in their blood as they subjectively felt more severe memory decline. It was also confirmed that using this test could predict subjective cognitive decline more sensitively than the high-cost amyloid PET test.

This study is significant in that, unlike previous studies focusing on differences in amyloid-beta aggregation in the blood between Alzheimer's dementia or mild cognitive impairment and normal individuals, it discovered more subtle differences even among normal individuals. The research team is continuing studies to determine whether amyloid-beta aggregation testing in the blood of normal elderly people with subjective cognitive decline can predict the occurrence of mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer's dementia several years later.

Professor Kim said, "This research was made possible thanks to the active participation of the elderly from the Yongin City Giheung-gu Senior Citizens Association and nearby areas, who volunteered with a spirit of service for future generations even during the COVID-19 pandemic," adding, "We will continue to do our best with better research until the day comes when dementia can be completely cured."

This study was published in the latest issue of the prestigious dementia-related academic journal, Alzheimer’s Research & Therapy.