Novel Brain Scans Could Help Early Detection of Alzheimer's Disease

A new study could let doctors see the build-up of tau in brains of people suffering from Alzheimer's disease. The method could help diagnose the condition in its primary stages. Until now, tau accumulation in advanced stages could only be detected during an autopsy.

Many researchers believe that abnormal structures in the brain called plaques and tangles cause the disease. These tangles are twisted fibers of a protein called 'tau' that accumulate inside brain cells. The latest research, conducted by Japanese scientists, could potentially revolutionize the detection of Alzheimer's disease in people.

Alzheimer's disease is an irreversible, progressive brain disease that slowly destroys memory and thinking, according to National Institute on Aging. Latest data from the Alzheimer's Association shows that over 5 million people in the U.S. have AD, a number that is expected to explode to 13. 8 to 16 million people by 2050. There is a lot of research in the field of Alzheimer's disease and scientists are just beginning to understand the disease.

Brains of people suffering from Alzheimer's disease have physical changes due to the build-up of the protein. However, there was no way of actually seeing these changes.

Now, researchers at the National Institute of Radiological Sciences in Chiba have built a 3D picture of tau in the brain using positron emission tomography, BBC reported.

The team developed a chemical that can adhere to the tau. Experts used brain scans to detect the presence of this chemical. Studies on mice and human subjects have already shown positive effects.

"Positron emission tomography images of tau accumulation... provide robust information on brain regions developing or at risk for tau-induced neuronal death," Dr Makoto Higuchi, from the National Institute of Radiological Sciences in Japan told BBC.

There is another way by which the disease affects the brain- by producing a toxic molecule called amyloid beta. These molecules clump together in the brain forming a plaque that disrupts the normal functioning of the brain. The body's defense system- microglial cells aren't enough to remove these molecules. Researchers said that even amyloid beta can be detected using the same method.

The study is published in the journal Neuron.