Novel chemical could detect changes in amyloid in Alzheimer's disease

In the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease, amyloid forms into small clusters. Researchers believe there are a number of forms of the protein with different shapes or arrangements. The new technique uses a new class of biomarkers called luminescent conjugated oligothiophenes (LCOs) or luminescent conjugated polymers (LCPs). They are designed to differentiate between different forms of amyloid, emitting a differently coloured signal depending on the arrangement of the protein. Scientists have tested the technique on brain tissue and found that a different type of amyloid is present in people who have the APOE4 Alzheimer's gene.

Alzheimer's Society comment:

'The development of this new approach will enable us to increase our understanding of amyloid, a key hallmark of Alzheimer's. This is essential if we are to progress in our ongoing search for drugs to prevent and treat this devastating condition.'

'It is interesting that the technique has detected apparent differences between the protein in people with the gene APOE4, which is linked to Alzheimer's and the normal gene APOE3. However much more research is needed to understand what these differences are and why they occur. One in three people over 65 will die with dementia yet dementia research is drastically underfunded. We must invest now.'

Professor Clive Ballard
Director of Research
Alzheimer's Society

Study reference: 'New conformation-sensing imaging compounds distinguish protein deposits in APOE3 Alzheimer's patients from that in APOE4 Alzheimer's patients' by Hannah Brautigam et al