Hip Fractures May Serve as First Sign of Undiagnosed Alzheimer’s Disease

A study published in PLOS One has revealed biomarkers of Alzheimer's in the spinal fluid of subjects with no clinical diagnosis or signs of dementia when they were hospitalized to repair hip fractures, reports News-Medical . The researchers suggested this finding adds credibility to the theory that brain alterations that unbalance older adults may underpin both an elevated risk of hip-fracturing falls and Alzheimer's, and that hip fracture itself may therefore serve as a first sign of undiagnosed disease. The implication is that anyone facing hip repair surgery following a fall should be monitored closely for symptoms of post-operative delirium or other mental or cognitive problems during recovery, as some people may have underlying Alzheimer's, which might make them more vulnerable. In 168 study participants, spinal fluid samples were tested for elevated levels of commonly accepted biomarkers of Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases. The biomarkers included the proteins amyloid beta 42, Aß40, tau, and tau with a phosphate chemical group attached (p-tau).