This segment looks at Alzheimer's treatments. Twenty years before you develop symptoms, we're now able to detect biomarkers for the tau and amyloid plaques. Neurology specialist Dr. Michael Mega joins Suzanne courtesy of Athira Pharma to tell us more.

Dr. Mega is the Director of the Center for Cognitive Health in Portland, OR. He has published multiple scientific papers, book chapters, and a textbook contributing to the field of cognitive neuroscience.

Dr. Mega says, "Very soon, once the FDA standardizes the laboratories that are across the country that will be up and running, measuring these blood biomarkers, we can imagine that when you go for your annual wellness check, in addition to getting your hemoglobin A1C collected as well as your cholesterol, you'll get probably a phosphor related P TAU 1 81 or P TAU 2, 17 blood biomarker to find out if you're on the slippery slope of developing Alzheimer's disease.

“Right now the FDA has not approved the laboratories across the country that will be approved to measure. For example, PA 181. Eli Lilly, the pharmaceutical company that has the NAAB being fast tracked that just a couple of weeks ago released their Phase 3 data supporting that it slows decline in people with early changes by 47%. They have a patent on PETA 217. So I would imagine that Lilly could share that with the rest of the medical community, if they get indication and standardization of laboratory assessments across the country. So once that happens, your primary doctor will be able to order that.”

He also talks about P tau, a phosphor-related tau, why it gets phosphorated, and what that means to your cognitive health.

Visit the Center for Cognitive Health to learn more, see details on cutting edge research, and a list of active clinical trials at their clinic. You can also call (503) 476-9788. Hear more Alzheimer's-related podcasts from Athira Pharma, as well as other shows with Dr. Michael Mega. Visit lift-adtrial.com to learn about Athira Pharma's LIFT-AD Alzheimer's Disease trial.

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