Close X
Thursday, October 31, 2024
ADVT 
Health

Now, technology to detect Alzheimer's early

Darpan News Desk IANS, 23 Dec, 2014 11:12 AM
    A new non-invasive MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) technology developed by an Indian-origin scientist-led research team can detect Alzheimer's disease in its earliest stages.
     
    The MRI probe can detect the amyloid beta brain toxins responsible for onset of the disease. The accumulated toxins show up as dark areas in MRI scans of the brain.
     
    "Non-invasive imaging by MRI of amyloid beta oligomers (toxins that damage the neurons) is a giant step forward towards diagnosis of this debilitating disease in its earliest form," said Vinayak Dravid, a professor at Northwestern University, US.
     
    This ability to detect the molecular toxins may one day enable scientists to both spot trouble early and better design drugs or therapies to combat and monitor the disease.
     
    "This MRI method could be used to determine how well a new drug is working," Dravid added.
     
    This new MRI probe technology is detecting something different from conventional technology: toxic amyloid beta oligomers instead of plaques, which occur at a stage of Alzheimer's when therapeutic intervention would be very late.
     
    Amyloid beta oligomers now are widely believed to be the culprit in the onset of Alzheimer's disease and subsequent memory-loss.
     
    "We have a new brain imaging method that can detect the toxin that leads to Alzheimer's disease," William Klein from Northwestern University, US, pointed out.
     
    The nontoxic MRI probe was delivered intranasally to mouse models with Alzheimer's disease and control animals without the disease.
     
    In animals with Alzheimer's, the toxins' presence can be seen clearly in the hippocampus in brain's MRI scans.
     
    No dark areas, however, were seen in the hippocampus of the control group.
     
    The study appeared in the journal Nature Nanotechnology.

    MORE Health ARTICLES

    Take Vitamin C If Exercise Makes You Cough

    Take Vitamin C If Exercise Makes You Cough
    If you show symptoms of respiratory disorders such as cough or sore throat after a session of vigorous exercise, increasing your vitamin C intake could offer relief, says a study.

    Take Vitamin C If Exercise Makes You Cough

    Why People Crave For Sugar-Rich Foods

    Why People Crave For Sugar-Rich Foods
    Researchers have discovered a mechanism that prompts people to seek food rich in glucose - the body's main energy source.

    Why People Crave For Sugar-Rich Foods

    Weight-loss surgery may improve urinary problems

    Weight-loss surgery may improve urinary problems
    A new research has shown that bariatric surgery, or the weight loss surgery may lessen the frequency and severity of lower urinary tract symptoms....

    Weight-loss surgery may improve urinary problems

    New drug could transform leukaemia treatment

    New drug could transform leukaemia treatment
    A new type of cancer therapy has produced dramatic results in patients with advanced leukaemia in an early-phase clinical trial....

    New drug could transform leukaemia treatment

    Correct myths about the flu vaccine: Study

    Correct myths about the flu vaccine: Study
    As health systems across the world are trying to increase vaccination levels, a study has suggested that it is critical to understand how to....

    Correct myths about the flu vaccine: Study

    High Birth Weight Makes Kids Smarter At School

    High Birth Weight Makes Kids Smarter At School
    Lower weight at birth has an adverse effect on children's performance in school which is likely due to the early health struggles small babies often face, a research has found.

    High Birth Weight Makes Kids Smarter At School