A New Way to Detect an Undetectable Disease
Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder where the neurons in the brain gradually stop working. It results in commonly known symptoms: memory loss, difficulty thinking, and much more. The disease is usually in the form of late-onset Alzheimer's. This means there aren't any symptoms for the first 15–20 years, but the symptoms manifest after the age of 65. Due to the delayed onset, it is often difficult to detect the disease. However, With the recent discovery of a potential early marker for Alzheimer's, it may be possible to detect the disease up to 17 years before symptoms begin showing up.
As Alzheimer's develops, a protein called amyloid-beta begins to misfold and malfunction, leading to amyloid plaque buildup. The misfolding of a protein can alter its function or make the protein completely nonfunctional, as protein function depends on how it is folded. Amyloid plaques are abnormal groups of protein in the tissue found in nerve cells. They are often one of the characteristics of Alzheimer’s disease, but little is known regarding their role in the progression of the disease. It is unknown whether they cause neurodegeneration or if they are a byproduct of disease progression; however, scientists do know that increased amyloid plaque is often attributed to the worsening of Alzheimer's disease.
As Alzheimer's develops, a protein called amyloid-beta begins to misfold and malfunction, leading to amyloid plaque buildup. The misfolding of a protein can alter its function or make the protein completely nonfunctional, as protein function depends on how it is folded. Amyloid plaques are abnormal groups of protein in the tissue found in nerve cells. They are often one of the characteristics of Alzheimer’s disease, but little is known regarding their role in the progression of the disease. It is unknown whether they cause neurodegeneration or if they are a byproduct of disease progression; however, scientists do know that increased amyloid plaque is often attributed to the worsening of Alzheimer's disease.
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Researchers were able to use the protein amyloid-beta to detect the misfolding of the protein with an immuno-infrared sensor. The immuno-infrared sensor uses antibodies, which are produced by the immune system and are used in research studies to identify and mark proteins. Thus, they are able to find a disease-specific antibody and use this to detect misfolding. Blood samples were collected from 9,940 participants aged 50–75 between the years 2000–2002—all of whom had not yet been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. After the 17-year follow-up, 68 participants were found to have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s when the researchers detected amyloid plaque buildup in the samples from these patients.
Although this research is incredibly significant for the future research of Alzheimer’s disease, it does not provide a cure for the disease–only the possibility for early detection. Early detection of Alzheimer’s may also allow for therapy or drugs to have more of an effect or even to slow down the progression of the disease. This research may also prove important for studying other similar diseases, like Parkinson’s disease or Huntington’s disease, which also involve the misfolding of proteins. Immuno-infrared sensors used by this research group could also be used to detect the misfolding of proteins in each of the aforementioned diseases. Instead of using an Alzheimer’s disease-specific antibody, researchers can, in theory, find antibodies specific to other diseases to measure misfolding. Regardless, this technology may allow individuals to better prepare for the future once the symptoms begin to appear.
Although this research is incredibly significant for the future research of Alzheimer’s disease, it does not provide a cure for the disease–only the possibility for early detection. Early detection of Alzheimer’s may also allow for therapy or drugs to have more of an effect or even to slow down the progression of the disease. This research may also prove important for studying other similar diseases, like Parkinson’s disease or Huntington’s disease, which also involve the misfolding of proteins. Immuno-infrared sensors used by this research group could also be used to detect the misfolding of proteins in each of the aforementioned diseases. Instead of using an Alzheimer’s disease-specific antibody, researchers can, in theory, find antibodies specific to other diseases to measure misfolding. Regardless, this technology may allow individuals to better prepare for the future once the symptoms begin to appear.
Featured Image Source: ColiN00B
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