Drebrin A Biomarker Detection for Early Cognitive Dysfunction Staging

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for diagnosing cognitive dysfunctions such as Alzheimer's disease are limited to post-mortem pathological analysis or late-stage imaging, lacking early detection capabilities for mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

Innovation Solution

A method for determining cognitive dysfunction stages by measuring the levels of drebrin A or drebrin A-derived molecules, such as DARP, in biological samples like cerebrospinal fluid, combined with amyloid βs and phosphorylated taus, to accurately assess cognitive states.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If post-mortem pathological analysis is used to confirm Alzheimer's disease diagnosis, then diagnostic accuracy is improved, but the ability to perform early diagnosis during lifetime is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvediagnostic accuracyVSAvoidearly diagnosis capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The invention measures drebrin A levels in biological samples (cerebrospinal fluid, blood, urine, saliva, or lacrimal fluid) to detect cognitive dysfunction before clinical symptoms appear. This preliminary detection enables early intervention and treatment before the disease progresses to late stages, resolving the contradiction between accurate diagnosis and early detection capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses drebrin A as a biomarker intermediary substance that reflects synaptic dysfunction in the brain. By measuring drebrin A levels in easily obtainable biological samples, the invention indirectly detects brain pathology without requiring invasive brain tissue analysis, thus enabling early diagnosis during lifetime while maintaining diagnostic accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If question tests or imaging tests are used for lifetime diagnosis, then non-invasive detection is achieved, but early diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment cannot be performed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenon-invasive detectionVSAvoidearly diagnosis capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces subjective question tests and imaging tests with a biochemical measurement system that quantifies drebrin A levels. This substitution provides objective, quantifiable data that can detect mild cognitive impairment earlier and more accurately than traditional methods, while maintaining ease of operation through simple biological sample collection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces a new measurement parameter (drebrin A level) that changes in response to synaptic dysfunction. By monitoring this specific biochemical parameter in biological samples, the invention achieves both early detection of cognitive impairment and objective quantification, overcoming the limitations of traditional question tests and imaging methods

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4632384A1Method for determining cognitive dysfunction stage
Publication Date: 2025.10.15 ALZMED INC
  • EP4632384A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
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AI summary

An object is to determine a cognitive dysfunction stage of a subject early. The present disclosure provides a method for determining a cognitive dysfunction stage of a subject comprising: a step of measuring a level or amount of at least one of drebrin A or drebrin A-derived molecules in a biological sample collected from the subject; and a step of determining a cognitive dysfunction stage of the subject based on the level or amount.