Dementia, Parkinson's: Is a new diagnostic tool on the horizon?
Share on Pinterest A new biosensor could detect structural changes in proteins indicative of neurodegenerative conditions, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Image credit: XH4D/Getty Images. Researchers have developed a new biosensor that can detect structural changes in proteins indicative of neurodegenerative conditions, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. The sensor could aid early diagnosis of various conditions and help personalize treatment options. Further tests are needed to understand how accurate the biosensor is in real-life settings. Neurodegenerative conditions occur when nerve cells lose function and die. The accumulation of misfolded proteins in the brain appears to be a common feature of some of these conditions. The most common neurodegenerative conditions are Alzheimer’s disease, which is estimated to affect 6.7 million people in the United States, and Parkinson’s disease, which affects nearly a million people in the U.S. Most neurodegenerative co...