Researchers say they’ve identified an indicator, or “biomarker,” in the blood that may help predict a person’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. For their study, the investigators tested the blood of 99 women, aged 70 to 79, for levels of a fatty compound called ceramides, which is associated with inflammation and cell death. The women were then followed for up to nine years and 27 of them developed dementia, including 18 who were diagnosed with probable Alzheimer’s disease.
