¶ˇĎăÔ°AV scientists developing early Alzheimer’s disease detection sensor
Researchers from the are developing a new biosensor that can be used to screen for Alzheimer’s disease and other diseases. An overview of their work was recently published in the journal .
The sensor works by detecting a particular type of small protein, in this case a cytokine known as Tumour Necrosis Factor alpha (TNF alpha), which is involved with inflammation in the body. Abnormal cytokine levels have been linked to a wide variety of diseases including Alzheimer’s disease, cancers, autoimmune and heart disease.
“Our goal is to develop a sensor that’s less invasive, less expensive and simpler to use than existing methods,” says professor Michael Adachi from the School of Engineering Science and the project’s co-lead.
“These sensors are also small and have potential to be placed in doctor’s offices to help diagnose different diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease.”