UCLA scientists fine-tune probe for early Alzheimer's detection

Discovery reveals how imaging agents bind to proteins that lead to Alzheimer's

2012-09-25

(Press-News.org) BACKGROUND In the Alzheimer's brain, hard plaques accumulate between the nerve cells while twisted fibers grow inside the nerve cells. The plaques arise from protein fragments called beta amlyoid, and the fibers form from a protein called tau. Doctors rely on brain scans to detect amyloid and tau and provide early intervention and treatment to potentially slow or reverse disease progression.

FINDINGS How the imaging agents work that scan the Alzheimer's brain is unknown. A new UCLA study reveals the physical mechanisms that allow chemical agents to bind to and detect amyloid beta plaques and tau tangles in the brain. The discovery will speed the development of new imaging agents, enabling quicker diagnosis and earlier treatment.

### AUTHORS Kendall Houk, Saul Winstein Professor of Organic Chemistry at UCLA's College of Letters and Sciences; and Jorge Barrio, distinguished professor of molecular and medical pharmacology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, are available for interviews.

JOURNAL The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences publishes the findings online during the week of Sept. 24 in its early edition.

FUNDING The study was supported by funding from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences.

GRAPHICS Color illustrations of imaging agents binding to proteins in brain available upon request.

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