Scientists have developed an innovative technique to observe Alzheimer’s disease as it progresses in the brain – a breakthrough that could accelerate the development of new treatments.
The new method uses light to detect and measure the build-up of amyloid plaques – sticky protein clumps that are a key characteristic of Alzheimer’s – at different depths in the brain.
It is the first time such measurements have been made in living animals as they move naturally, rather than under anaesthetic or in fixed positions.
The research was carried out by the University of Strathclyde in partnership with the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, the University of Padua and the Technical University of Denmark, combining expertise in neuroscience, physics and biomedical imaging.
Professor Shuzo Sakata at Strathclyde and senior author of the study said: “Being able to monitor changes in the brain as they happen – in real time and across different brain regions – is a major step forward.
“It will help researchers understand how Alzheimer’s disease develops and test whether new treatments are working, more quickly and accurately than before.”
A special fluorescent dye that attaches to amyloid plaques in the brain was used.
Ultra-thin optical fibres were then applied to shine light into the brain and measure how much of the dye was present – providing a clear picture of how much plaque had formed.
The system was tested in mice that had been genetically modified to develop Alzheimer’s-like symptoms. The results closely matched those seen in postmortem brain tissue, confirming the accuracy of the new technique.
The research was funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020, the Medical Research Council, part of UKRI, and Alzheimer’s Research UK.
“This approach allows us to track the disease over time in the same subject, and opens new doors for studying the progression of Alzheimer’s and how it responds to treatment,” said Dr Niall McAlinden, co-author and expert in photonics at Strathclyde.
The team is now working to improve the system’s capabilities and explore its use in studying other characteristics of Alzheimer’s disease.
