A biomarker in urine may provide an early warning for Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer’s disease often takes people by surprise. Because there is no simple way to detect it early, patients often discover they have it only after symptoms present themselves.

But a new study shows that formic acid is a urinary biomarker that can identify early-stage Alzheimer’s disease, potentially offering an inexpensive and convenient way to screen for it.

The study published in Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience reports that formic acid in urine is a sensitive marker that may indicate very early-stage Alzheimer’s disease.  

Previous research found a connection between urinary formaldehyde and Alzheimer’s. Researchers in the latest study showed that urinary formic acid can reflect the metabolic changes of formaldehyde, making it a good indicator for Alzheimer’s.

The researchers tested 574 patients who were screened for cognitive function. They were divided into five groups: Normal cognitive, subjective cognitive decline, cognitive impairment without mild cognitive impairment, mild cognitive impairment, and Alzheimer’s disease.

They found a significant correlation between urinary formic acid and the very early stages of Alzheimer’s disease. 

Early diagnosis may make the disease more effectively treatable. Evidence suggests that people can prevent or reduce their risk of cognitive decline by making lifestyle changes, such as increasing physical activity, maintaining good heart health, and remaining socially engaged.

The organization Us Against Alzheimer’s reports that the combination of lifestyle changes can have significant results, a position shared by the study’s authors, who wrote:

“Alzheimer’s disease is a continuous and concealed chronic disease, meaning that it can develop and last for many years before obvious cognitive impairment emerges. The early stages of the disease occur before the irreversible dementia stage, and this is the golden window for intervention and treatment.”

The problem is that current methods to diagnose Alzheimer’s are expensive, inconvenient, and impractical for routine screening. The Alzheimer’s Association says current ways to diagnose the disease rely on a patient’s medical history, mental status tests, physical and neurological exams, diagnostic tests, and brain imaging. 

A urine test for formic acid could change all that.

Methuselah Foundation has long supported the use of health screening tests beyond those routinely done by physicians. More extensive testing is available but tends to be overlooked by doctors who focus on basic health care and not life extension.

Such tests can provide useful information about our cells’ biological age, organ health, and other things that can be used to identify lifestyle changes or medical supplements we should consider to optimize our health spans.

This extensive testing is one part of what we call the Methuselah Protocols, science-based practices to help us live longer, healthier, and more fulfilling lives.  To bring these protocols to the public, we have created Everest Health, a unique medical consultancy aimed at helping people increase their healthspans. Visit the site to learn more.