Detecting Alzheimer's disease in its early stages could now be possible with a recently developed non-invasive MRI method.
Quiz On Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia. Participate in this quiz to find out how much you know about this debilitating disease.
Advertisement
The team of Northwestern University scientists and engineers has developed this approach that can detect the disease at the earliest stages of the disease, well before typical Alzheimer's symptoms appear.
Led by neuroscientist William L. Klein and materials scientist Vinayak P. Dravid, the research team developed an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) probe that pairs a magnetic nanostructure (MNS) with an antibody that seeks out the amyloid beta brain toxins responsible for onset of the disease. The accumulated toxins, because of the associated magnetic nanostructures, show up as dark areas in MRI scans of the brain.
![Conquering Alzheimer]( "Conquering Alzheimer")
Gripping over 2 million elderly people worldwide, Alzheimer's disease is a serious neurological condition, still devoid of an appropriate treatment.
Neuroscientist William L. Klein said that the ability to detect amyloid beta oligomers, was important for two reasons: amyloid beta oligomers are the toxins that damage neurons, and the oligomers are the first sign of trouble in the disease process, appearing before any other pathology.
This ability to detect the molecular toxins might one day enable scientists to both spot trouble early and better design drugs or therapies to combat and monitor the disease.
And, while not the focus of the study, early evidence suggested that the MRI probe improves memory, too, by binding to the toxins to render them "handcuffed" to do further damage.
The research is published in the journal Nature Nanotechnology.
Source: ANI
Conquering Alzheimer's - New Hopes
Gripping over 2 million elderly people worldwide, Alzheimer's disease is a serious neurological condition, still devoid of an appropriate treatment.
Advertisement
Neuroscientist William L. Klein said that the ability to detect amyloid beta oligomers, was important for two reasons: amyloid beta oligomers are the toxins that damage neurons, and the oligomers are the first sign of trouble in the disease process, appearing before any other pathology.
This ability to detect the molecular toxins might one day enable scientists to both spot trouble early and better design drugs or therapies to combat and monitor the disease.
And, while not the focus of the study, early evidence suggested that the MRI probe improves memory, too, by binding to the toxins to render them "handcuffed" to do further damage.
The research is published in the journal Nature Nanotechnology.
Source: ANI
Cinnamon May Prevent Alzheimer's Disease: New Study
A new study published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease indicates that cinnamon could play a role in preventing Alzheimer's.
Advertisement
 Top 13 Latest Facts & Figures on Alzheimer’s DiseaseAlzheimer's disease is an irreversible age-related brain disorder that destroys the memory associated with the ability to carry out even the simplest tasks. Here are some facts and figures on Alzheimer's disease. | Advertisement
|
Advertisement
Recommended Reading
Latest Senior Health News
Comparing the levels of proteins along with physical health, brain function, and the severity of their depression, showed evidence of accelerated biological aging.
Is postoperative delirium linked to cognitive decline? Yes, delirium is associated with a faster cognitive decline in all periods from six months to six years.
Happy long life to you: Being more social can increase the life span of older people. So, start socializing to add more years to your life.
The sequences of DNA at the extremity of chromosomes called telomeres seem to be a hallmark of depression and cognitive complaints in older adults.
A new study has found that being a frail elderly person and using a wheelchair involves a substantially decreased risk of fractures.