Imagine if someone spilled a bunch of formaldehyde in your brain, causing all sorts of trouble. Well, that seems to be what happens in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). But guess what? Scientists have discovered a potential new way to spot this disorder early on: urinary formic acid! In a recent study, researchers investigated the relationship between urinary formic acid and plasma biomarkers in AD. They found that as the disease progressed, levels of urinary formic acid increased. This new biomarker showed promising correlations with cognitive tests commonly used to assess AD. In fact, it performed just as well, if not better than, other plasma biomarkers in distinguishing between normal cognition and AD. What’s more, when combined with formaldehyde levels, urinary formic acid improved the accuracy of plasma biomarkers in determining the stage of AD. These exciting findings suggest that urinary formic acid could be a game-changer in the early diagnosis of AD! If you want to dive deeper into the research, be sure to check out the full article.
IntroductionThe accumulation of endogenous formaldehyde is considered a pathogenic factor in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between urinary formic acid and plasma biomarkers in AD.Materials and methodsFive hundred and seventy-four participants were divided into five groups according to their diagnosis: 71 with normal cognitive (NC), 101 with subjective cognitive decline (SCD), 131 with cognitive impairment without mild cognitive impairment (CINM), 158 with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and 113 with AD.ResultsWith the progression of the disease, urinary formic acid levels showed an overall upward trend. Urinary formic acid was significantly correlated with Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores, the Chinese version of Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination III (ACE-III) scores, and Montreal Cognitive Assessment-Basic (MoCA-B) time. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC) of urinary formic acid in distinguishing NC from AD was 0.797, which was similar to that of plasma neurofilament light chain (NfL; AUC = 0.768) and better than other plasma biomarkers (Aβ40, Aβ42, Aβ42/Aβ40, T-tau, P-tau181, and P-tau181/T-tau). We also found that using urinary formic acid and formaldehyde levels could improve the accuracy of using plasma biomarkers to determine AD disease stage.DiscussionOur study revealed the possibility of urinary formic acid as a potential novel biomarker for the early diagnosis of AD.
Dr. David Lowemann, M.Sc, Ph.D., is a co-founder of the Institute for the Future of Human Potential, where he leads the charge in pioneering Self-Enhancement Science for the Success of Society. With a keen interest in exploring the untapped potential of the human mind, Dr. Lowemann has dedicated his career to pushing the boundaries of human capabilities and understanding.
Armed with a Master of Science degree and a Ph.D. in his field, Dr. Lowemann has consistently been at the forefront of research and innovation, delving into ways to optimize human performance, cognition, and overall well-being. His work at the Institute revolves around a profound commitment to harnessing cutting-edge science and technology to help individuals lead more fulfilling and intelligent lives.
Dr. Lowemann’s influence extends to the educational platform BetterSmarter.me, where he shares his insights, findings, and personal development strategies with a broader audience. His ongoing mission is shaping the way we perceive and leverage the vast capacities of the human mind, offering invaluable contributions to society’s overall success and collective well-being.