Researchers have found that many adults in their 40s show tiny lesions in parts of the brain. Alzheimer's patients typically have lesions in similar parts of the brain, only they are much larger.
A simple test of physical reactions and memory could help doctors identify adults with the lesions and so catch potential Alzheimer's sufferers early. The test could be available from general practitioners within two years, the researchers said.
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A elderly woman with Alzheimer's disease looks out through a rain-streaked window
"The study lays open possibilities for screening, early detection and intervention," said professor David Bunce of Brunel University in London. "The earlier we can intervene with people vulnerable to eventual dementia, the greater the chances of preventing or delaying the disease onset."
There is no cure for Alzheimer's, and the average sufferer dies within eight years of exhibiting symptoms, according to The Alzheimer's Association.
The study, published in the journal PLoS One, indicates that the signs of brain degeneration can begin long before any Alzheimer's symptoms are noticeable.
The test opens new avenues for doctors to pursue means to prevent the disease at a younger age.
"Although we cannot be certain that these middle-aged people will go on to get dementia, the results are important," Bunce said.