Using Biomarkers to Prevent, Cure Neurological Disorders   

January 20, 2022 - To better understand why so many individuals worldwide suffer from brain diseases, Cleveland Clinic has launched a new study aiming to identify disease biomarkers early, preventing neurological illnesses before symptoms occur.  

The Cleveland Clinic Brain Study will gather data from up to 200,000 neurologically healthy individuals over 20 years to detect brain disease biomarkers and targets to prevent and cure neurological disorders. 

According to researchers, one in every six people around the world has a neurological disease such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, stroke, or epilepsy. Although medical professionals have learned how to manage some symptoms of brain disorders, it remains challenging to predict who will develop the condition and how to cure or stop the progression.  

Led by Andre Machado, MD, PhD, and Imad Najm, MD, of Cleveland Clinic’s Neurological Institute, the multi-year study enlists the expertise of physicians and scientists around the world.  

“Disrupting neurological diseases is one of the greatest challenges of our time and motivates our clinicians and scientists every day,” Machado said in a press release. 

“By launching a study of this magnitude, we have the potential to discover causes of neurological disorders and what happens before symptoms become obvious — the silent phase. Our hope is to change the course of neurodegeneration, with the long-term goal of curing diseases in their earliest stages, years before symptoms are even seen. Achieving this will be a great gift to our children and grandchildren. We can make neurological care better for the next generations.” 

The initial phase of the study will enroll 10,000 volunteers to be examined over the first five years. It will include adults 50 years and older with no known neurological disorders or neurologically healthy adults aged 20 and older who have a first-degree relative diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.  

Volunteers will participate in yearly assessments, including neurological examination, bloodwork, eye retina scans, brain MRIs, EEG and sleep studies, and other cognitive function tests. 

With advanced computer tools, the researchers will collect data points for the study volunteers. Collectively, the data points will create a trend line to capture the genetic risk factors. Through this process, the team will identify “disease fingerprints” to guide diagnostic and preventative strategies.  

“By researching at-risk healthy individuals over the course of 20 years, we will learn what is happening to the brain and body before a neurological disease is diagnosed. This research will help us understand the mechanisms of brain diseases and lead to the design of preventive treatment for neurological diseases. This is precision medicine in its best form,” said Najm, vice-chair of the Neurological Institute for Strategy and Development. 

“We’re building a foundation to screen one person at a time — potentially with something as routine as a blood test — to diagnose brain disease on the spot and prevent it from happening altogether.”