Progress in fighting Alzheimer's disease highlighted at conference

During the 2024 China Brain Health Conference held in Beijing on Saturday and Sunday, Hangzhou CellGer Biotechnology Co Ltd, an in vitro diagnostics company focusing on new immunodetection technologies and platforms, shared its insights and technologies on the prevention of Alzheimer's disease.

As a progressive neurodegenerative disease, Alzheimer's disease is becoming an urgent brain health threat worldwide, and the next decade will be an important "window of opportunity" for China to address it, Chen Yang, general manager of Hangzhou CellGer Biotechnology, said during the event.

"The cutting-edge technology and novel medications have brought new hope for the early screening, diagnosis and treatment of the disease. We call on all sectors of society to pay more attention to the elderly and the disease and conduct intervention as early as possible," she added.

Data from the latest national census showed that there were 264 million people aged 60 and above on the Chinese mainland in 2020, accounting for 18.7 percent of the total population, and the number is expected to surpass 300 million by 2025.

In addition, about 15.07 million people aged 60 and older in China suffered from dementia, and more than 65 percent of that number had Alzheimer's disease, according to a cross-sectional study published in 2020.

As the population ages, the incidence, prevalence, and mortality rates of brain diseases will continue to increase, placing a substantial burden on society.

The early screening, early intervention, and dynamic monitoring of Alzheimer's disease has proven effective in delaying its onset and therefore become essential in protecting the brain health of the people, Chen said.

"Committed to new immunodiagnostic technologies, we are making efforts to make progress in medical research and clinical applications and enhance the accessibility of innovative diagnostic technologies to bring more benefits to patients," she said.

A national brain health center pilot program was launched in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, in June, being guided and supported by Chen Xiaochun from the expert committee of the National Brain Health Initiative and the Shanghai Medical Innovation and Development Foundation.

Hangzhou CellGer Biotechnology, as a participant of the program, will conduct brain health screenings for seniors over 60 who receive physical check-ups in local communities.

Community screening lowers the threshold for old people to engage, promotes health education, and helps identify potential risks, thereby allowing for early intervention and preventive measures, according to Chen Yang.

The company also introduced how the center develops during the China Brain Health Conference, while showcasing its new products including an Alzheimer's disease multiplex detection kit.

What underpins the kit is the flow cytometry technique, which may improve the convenience and efficiency of clinical diagnosis and treatment due to its features such as simple operation, high sensitivity and rapid analysis, said staff members of the company.

Chen Yang said they will strengthen collaboration with partners in the future to integrate the early screening, diagnosis, and treatment of Alzheimer's disease into the routine examination of medical institutions and offer better medical services to elderly patients.

"We are looking to raise the awareness of Alzheimer's disease among Chinese people and relieve the patients' burden through early diagnosis and treatment," she said.

Themed around "Brain Health and Prevention", this year's brain health conference is aimed at enhancing the public's understanding of brain health.

Through its global technological innovation, Hangzhou CellGer Biotechnology is cooperating with the government and medical institutions to explore a path for the screening, diagnosis, treatment and healthcare system of Alzheimer's disease that fits China's national conditions.