A study by Edith Cowan University scientists has found hidden health signals that coat cells – a discovery they say could change medicine forever.
Researchers from the university’s School of Medical and Health Sciences have found sugar molecules in the body may reveal disease long before it is detected.
The research, published in Nature Chemical Biology, shines a spotlight on glycans, which are tiny, complex sugar chains that coat cells and proteins.
For years these sugar molecules were dismissed as little more than biological decoration, however ECU’s Professor Wei Wang, who leads the suboptimal health and glycomics research group within the Centre for Precision Health, said this research showed they were far more than that.
“Glycans aren’t just sitting there, they’re actively controlling how our immune system works and how diseases develop,” he said.
“We’re finally seeing clear patterns, and it’s a game changer.”
Unlike DNA, which barely changes over time, glycans are constantly shifting, reacting to a person’s lifestyle, environment, and even hidden illness.
The ECU researchers said this makes them a real-time snapshot of a person’s health, and potentially a powerful early warning system.
The study found glycan patterns in blood can predict diseases like type 2 diabetes up to ten years before diagnosis.
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“This flips medicine on its head,” Professor Wang said.
“Instead of waiting for people to get sick, we could spot the risk early and step in sooner.”
Because glycan patterns are influenced by a complex mix of genetics, hormones and environmental factors, they’re deeply individual, making them ideal for personalised healthcare.
“The glycome gives us a live window into how the body is changing. DNA can’t do that,” Professor Wang said.
This discovery means in the future, a simple blood test could reveal a person’s unique disease risks and guide tailored treatments.
However, researchers say there is still work to do.
Bigger long-term studies and global standards are needed before glycan testing becomes routine.
“We’re at a turning point. If we get this right, it could transform how we diagnose and treat disease,” Professor Wang said.
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