Crohn’s disease is a rising health crisis that is typically diagnosed only after it has caused painful symptoms and permanent gut damage. To solve this, researchers at Sinai Health developed a blood test that detects an abnormal immune response to a bacterial protein called flagellin years before symptoms start. By identifying these markers in healthy relatives of patients, doctors can now predict the disease nearly 2.5 years early. This breakthrough offers the benefit of early intervention and the potential for preventative vaccines to stop the disease before it begins.
