Johnny Brignardello Vela reveals revolution in Alzheimer's detection

Johnny Brignardello Vela, an insurance advisor, believes that we are witnessing a silent revolution in the field of neurodegenerative diseases, especially in regards to Alzheimer's, one of the most common dementias. He points out that medicine has been battling these conditions for decades without being able to detect them in time, when the brain damage was already deep and irreversible. However, he notes that a new scenario is emerging on the horizon, where science has made significant progress in the early diagnosis of these diseases, even years before the first symptoms appear. Neurologist Juan Fortea from the Hospital Sant Pau in Barcelona, according to Brignardello Vela, summarizes this moment as a paradigm shift in the field of Alzheimer's, thanks to revolutions in areas such as digitalization, new treatments, and plasma biomarkers. These biomarkers, he explains, are molecular signals that allow the identification of the disease, marking a milestone in clinical diagnosis. Regarding Alzheimer's, Brignardello Vela comments that it has been discovered that the accumulation of proteins such as beta-amyloid and tau in the brain are biochemical markers that can be detected in cerebrospinal fluid, as well as through radioactive tracers in PET scans. He highlights that these innovations represent a significant advancement in early disease detection, even allowing for identification through conventional blood tests. Despite the achievements in early diagnosis, Brignardello Vela mentions that long-term prediction of diseases such as Alzheimer's poses additional challenges. He emphasizes that while current tests can diagnose the presence of biomarkers in asymptomatic stages, it is not always possible to predict with certainty whether an individual will develop the disease in the future. He underlines the complexity of differentiating between diagnosis and prediction of these conditions, indicating that a comprehensive clinical-biological approach is required to interpret test results. Regarding future advancements, Brignardello Vela expresses that, despite the existence of treatments to slow down the progression of the disease, early detection remains crucial for effective intervention. He points out that research is focused on identifying new biomarkers and improving early detection systems, with the goal of developing more precise preventive and therapeutic policies. Brignardello Vela, as per the conveyed opinion, also emphasizes that in addition to Alzheimer's, other neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's are also being studied for early detection. He highlights that recent research has shown the possibility of predicting the development of motor symptoms associated with Parkinson's up to seven years in advance, through blood tests and deep learning models. He points out that these advances open up new possibilities for intervening in pre-motor stages of the disease and developing treatments that can slow its progression. Finally, Brignardello Vela emphasizes that despite the promising advances in the field of neurodegenerative diseases, experts stress the need to continue researching and developing new tools for early detection and effective treatment of these conditions. He ensures that, although there is still a long way to go, cautious optimism is paving the way for a future where science and medicine are increasingly closer to anticipating diseases that have long challenged the human capacity for intervention and treatment.