There are five distinct subtypes of Alzheimer’s disease, each with its own trajectory and characteristic brain changes. This concept emerged from a study that analyzed brain-related biomarkers in cerebrospinal fluid and compared results from people with dementia to those from healthy individuals. The findings, published in a reputable journal, shed light on how the disease may unfold differently across individuals and why a one-size-fits-all approach to treatment has struggled to achieve consistent success. The research team examined cerebrospinal fluid samples from 419 patients diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and 187 healthy volunteers, utilizing a detailed proteomic profile to understand the underlying biology of the condition. They measured 1,058 distinct proteins in these samples, aiming to identify patterns that could reveal meaningful subgroups within the broad label of Alzheimer’s disease. [Citation: Cerebrospinal Fluid study, Nature Aging]
