Liver Enzyme Ratio Tied to Faster Alzheimer's Decline; Lasker Awards Recognize Brain Research
A study of over 2,700 Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative participants found that higher baseline ratios of aspartate aminotransferase to alanine aminotransferase were associated with more rapid cognitive and cortical decline, particularly in APOE4 carriers. The findings were published in Alzheimer's & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring. Separately, the Lasker Awards honored sleep researchers for their work on the orexin system and actor Michael J. Fox for his Parkinson's foundation.
The study linking higher AST-to-ALT ratios with faster cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s patients highlights a potential blood-based marker for disease progression, especially among APOE4 carriers. This ratio, typically used to assess liver health, may reflect systemic metabolic changes that influence neurodegeneration. The finding adds to growing evidence that peripheral organ function interacts with brain aging, as separate imaging research also connected brain-gut communication to aging in younger adults.
The Lasker Awards this year spotlighted neuroscience breakthroughs, including the orexin system’s role in wakefulness and Michael J. Fox’s advocacy for Parkinson’s research. These honors underscore how basic science and patient-driven initiatives can reshape understanding of neurological conditions, from sleep disorders to movement diseases.
This research could help clinicians identify Alzheimer’s patients at higher risk for rapid decline, enabling earlier or more aggressive interventions. It may also spur broader screening of liver enzymes in memory clinics, though the clinical utility remains uncertain. The Lasker recognition of brain science could raise public interest in neurological research funding, potentially accelerating translational work. However, the biomarker’s specificity and the ethical implications of asymptomatic Alzheimer’s blood tests, as noted in social media analyses, warrant careful consideration before widespread use.