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Novel MRI contrast agent offers hope for early detection of Alzheimer’s disease

November 2, 2020

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Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) scientists have invented a novel contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which enables real-time visualization and detection of the size and number of amyloid-beta in the brain, a main hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The invention offers hope for early detection and large-scale routine screening of AD. It can also help to assess the efficacy of drugs used to treat it.

Lack of contrast agent to visualize amyloid-beta

AD is a chronic neurodegenerative disease that constitutes 60 to 70 percent of dementia cases. It is characterized by the abnormal accumulation of amyloid-beta (Aβ) in the brain. Real-time visualization of Aβ contents in the brain is crucial for the diagnosis of AD and the monitoring of the disease’s progression.

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