Early Signs and Advanced Scans Target Alzheimer Disease Years Before Symptoms

Researchers are identifying subtle changes that may appear a decade before classic memory loss in Alzheimer disease. Early behavioral indicators include unusual financial decisions, unexplained weight loss, simplified language use, loss of smell and mood shifts such as apathy or irritability. Detecting these signs could enable earlier clinical intervention and better planning for patients and families.

Separate studies published in The Lancet evaluate PET imaging tracers that visualize tau protein, a hallmark of Alzheimer pathology. A new tracer, MK6240, identified more than twice as many tau-positive cases compared with the standard tracer Flortaucipir in participants who also showed amyloid‑β accumulation and mild cognitive impairment. The research, led by teams at UCSF and the University of Pittsburgh, suggests that more sensitive imaging could improve early diagnosis and support future therapeutic trials.