# Diagnosing Brain Diseases by Measuring a Protein in Blood or Urine > This patent describes a method for diagnosing brain diseases like Alzheimer's and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease by measuring the amount of a specific protein called beta-synuclein in non-spinal fluid samples such as blood or urine. - **Patent:** US 20220283184 - **Original title:** Novel Diagnostic Marker for Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease and Alzheimer's Disease - **Owner:** Individual - **Status:** Active - **Times cited:** 2 - **Field:** biotech, pharmaceutical, diagnostics, medical_devices ## What it does This patent describes a way to diagnose diseases linked to brain cell connection breakdown, known as synaptic degeneration, by measuring the concentration of a protein called beta-synuclein in a patient's sample (Claim 1). Importantly, the method specifically covers samples that are not cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), preferring samples like blood, serum, urine, saliva, or plasma (Claims 2, 3). The method is performed outside the body, or 'ex vivo' (Claim 4). It can be used to diagnose or assess the status of conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, traumatic brain injury, or stroke (Claim 5). For example, a doctor could take a blood serum sample from a patient, use a technique like quantitative mass spectrometry or single-molecule arrays (Simoa) to measure beta-synuclein (Claims 7, 10), and then compare the level to a specific cut-off value, such as 10 pg/ml for Alzheimer's or 39.8 pg/ml for Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, to help make a diagnosis (Claims 8, 9). ## What it does NOT cover - Does not cover diagnostic methods that rely solely on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples. - Does not cover diagnostic tests performed directly inside a living human or animal body. - Does not cover using other biomarkers besides beta-synuclein for diagnosing these specific diseases. - Does not cover methods of *treating* the diseases, only diagnosing, assessing, or monitoring their progression. ## The clever bit The novelty lies in identifying beta-synuclein as a specific biomarker for synaptic degeneration diseases and, crucially, demonstrating its utility in easily obtainable, non-cerebrospinal fluid samples like blood or urine. This moves away from more invasive diagnostic methods. ## Real-world examples 1. Blood tests for early Alzheimer's detection 2. Diagnostic panels for neurodegenerative disorders 3. Research tools for monitoring disease progression in clinical trials ## Why it matters Diagnosing neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease early and accurately is a major challenge. Current diagnostic methods often involve invasive procedures, such as spinal taps to collect cerebrospinal fluid. This patent offers a less invasive approach by using more accessible samples like blood, which could make early detection and monitoring easier for patients and doctors. ## Frequently asked questions ### What does Diagnosing Brain Diseases by Measuring a Protein in Blood or Urine cover? This patent describes a method for diagnosing brain diseases like Alzheimer's and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease by measuring the amount of a specific protein called beta-synuclein in non-spinal fluid samples such as blood or urine. ### Who owns patent US 20220283184? This patent is owned by Individual. ### When does this patent expire? This patent is expected to expire on August 12, 2040, when the invention enters the public domain. ### What is patent US 20220283184 cited by? This patent has been cited by 2 later patents that build on its ideas. ### What problem does this patent solve? Diagnosing neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease early and accurately is a major challenge. Current diagnostic methods often involve invasive procedures, such as spinal taps to collect cerebrospinal fluid. This patent offers a less invasive approach by using more accessible samples like blood, which could make early detection and monitoring easier for patients and doctors. ### What does this patent NOT cover? Does not cover diagnostic methods that rely solely on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples. **Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/20220283184/novel-diagnostic-marker-for-creutzfeldt-jakob-disease-and-alzheimers-disease **Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US20220283184 --- _Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._ ## Related patents Semantically similar inventions in the PatentBrief corpus: - [Detecting Alzheimer's Risk Early with a Blood Test and Brain Scan](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11193946/blood-biomarker-for-discerning-beta-amyloid-accumulation-in-brain) — This patent describes a two-step method to predict early Alzheimer's disease by first checking specific protein levels in a blood sample, and then, if certain markers are low, performing a brain scan to confirm amyloid beta buildup. - [Using a Blood Marker to Predict Concussion Risk and Severity](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12085565/sntf-is-a-blood-biomarker-for-the-diagnosis-and-prognosis-of-sports-related-conc) — This patent describes a method to diagnose and predict long-term issues from mild traumatic brain injury, like concussions, by measuring a specific protein fragment called SNTF in a blood sample. - [Using Blood Markers to Diagnose Stroke and Tell Its Type](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10914745/biomarker-based-methods-for-aiding-the-diagnosis-of-stroke) — This patent describes a two-step method for diagnosing a stroke and then determining if it's an ischemic stroke or a transient ischemic attack (TIA) by measuring specific protein levels in a patient's blood. - [Checking if Brain Injury Drugs Work Using Saliva or Urine](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/20200371093/prognostic-and-diagnostic-glycan-based-biomarkers-of-brain-damage) — This patent describes a method to determine if a drug for brain injury is effective by measuring specific sugar molecules in a patient's saliva or urine samples over time. - [How Computers Use Brain Maps to Diagnose Alzheimer's Disease](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12376789/raptor-testing) — A method for classifying stages of Alzheimer's disease by turning brain scan data into mathematical graphs and using machine learning to identify patterns.