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In the journals

A new study found that a simple blood test can detect beta-amyloid protein buildup in a person's brain years before Alzheimer's disease symptoms appear. The results were published online Aug. 1, 2019, by the journal Neurology.

High amounts of beta-amyloid can clump together and form plaques on the brain, which is strongly associated with Alzheimer's disease. Other research has found that amyloid plaques can appear as early as 20 years before the first sign of Alzheimer's symptoms, such as cognitive decline and memory loss.

Research we're watching

Screening symptom-free adults for pancreatic cancer doesn't appear to reduce deaths from the disease, according to a new analysis by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). The group advises against recommending screening in this group.

Pancreatic cancer is relatively uncommon, but the prognosis for people who get it is often poor, because it is frequently found at an advanced stage. This has made it the third most common cause of deaths from cancer in the United States. It was hoped that screening for the disease would enable doctors to spot cases earlier, when they might be easier to treat. However, the USPSTF reviewed findings on pancreatic cancer screening in people without symptoms and determined that there is no evidence that screening in this group � or treating cases of pancreatic cancer found on screening tests � reduces deaths from the disease. The task force concluded that the benefits of screening do not outweigh the potential harms.

Ask the doctor

Q. My friend, who has a family history of heart disease, recently had chest pains. The doctor ordered an exercise stress test on a treadmill, which was normal. His daughter insisted on a cardio PET scan, which showed that he needed triple bypass surgery. He had the surgery and is doing well and has no more chest pain. If stress tests aren't conclusive, why use them? How can people make sure they're getting the best information about their hearts?

A. People who are having chest pain at rest or rapidly worsening chest pain (known as unstable angina) need to be evaluated in an emergency department. However, people who have so-called stable angina (their chest pain occurs during certain activities and then goes away when they rest) are usually evaluated in a clinic or doctor's office.

On call

Q. Are there any particular reasons why men should get a routine blood test to check for a vitamin D deficiency?

A. The importance of sufficient vitamin D for bone health has a long history. In the past few decades, several studies have suggested that vitamin D might have other health benefits as well.

Research we're watching

Don't want to skip breakfast before your cholesterol test? You probably don't need to. A study published online May 28 by JAMA Internal Medicine adds to the evidence that fasting isn't necessary before this common blood test, often referred to as a lipid profile.

For the study, nearly 8,300 people at risk for heart disease had fasting and nonfasting lipid profile tests done at least four weeks apart. (Fasting means they had nothing to eat or drink except water for at least eight hours before the test.) The differences in their total, LDL, and HDL cholesterol values were negligible. Triglyceride levels were modestly higher in the nonfasting samples.

It's your doctor's call, but it's good to understand, and to weigh, your options.

Your heart doesn't just pump blood—it needs blood to survive. So, when blocked coronary arteries threaten the heart's blood supply, something must be done.

Ask the doctor

Q. My cardiologist mentioned that he was going to do a "bubble study" during my echocardiogram. What is that?

A. During an echocardiogram, a technician uses a probe that emits high-frequency sound waves (ultrasound) that "echo" off the structures of your heart. The waves, which are translated into video images visible on a monitor, can reveal in-formation about your heart's structure and function. A bubble study gives added information, as it can identify potential blood flow issues inside your heart.

In the journals

Even if you believe you're in excellent health, you could still be at risk for a heart attack or stroke, suggests a study of more than 6,800 people, average age 62, published Feb. 15, 2019, in JAMA Network Open. At the study's beginning, participants rated their health as excellent, very good, good, or poor/fair. (More than half the men reported being in very good or excellent health.)

Next, everyone had a coronary artery calcium (CAC) scan, which detects plaque buildup in the arteries of the heart. The scores range from zero to 100 and higher, with zero meaning no plaque buildup is present and cardio-vascular disease risk is at its lowest.

This noninvasive test can predict plaque in the heart's arteries. But it is useful only in certain situations.

Imagine a 57-year-old man (let's call him Bill) who's in pretty good health � a nonsmoker who eats right and exercises regularly. He takes two drugs to treat high blood pressure. Even though his LDL (bad) cholesterol isn't all that high, his primary care doctor suggests that Bill consider taking a statin to lower his risk of a heart attack.

Bill is a little hesitant to add another drug to his daily regimen, so his doctor tells him about a test that may help with the decision: a coronary artery calcium scan. This noninvasive test, which can reveal dangerous plaque in the heart's arteries, has been available for more than a decade. But calcium scans (as they're often called) are now recognized in official guidelines and are being used far more often than in the past, says Dr. Ron Blankstein, a cardiovascular imaging specialist and preventive cardiologist at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women's Hospital.

Aspirin falls short in improving colon cancer test results.