Anavex Life Sciences Corp (AVXL)

[Helium-3]

Small, sensitive biosensors could help doctors deliver personalized care, even in developing countries

A portable biosensor that could show how disease is progressing in patients with Alzheimer's could greatly improve people's quality of life in the future, according to a new review published in Biosensors and Bioelectronics.

The authors of the review, from the Florida International University, are taking a new approach to diagnosing the disease: measuring the amount of a peptide called beta-amyloid in the blood with a cheap, quick, accurate point-of-care test. They hope their new approach will help patients, including those in developing countries, benefit from personalized treatment for Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease is caused by high levels of beta-amyloid in the brain, which leads to the degeneration of brain cells. Doctors can use various types of scans and immunoassays, such as MRI and ELISA to estimate the amount of beta-amyloid in the brain, giving them an indication of how the disease is progressing. But the protein can also be found in lower levels in blood, making it a useful biomarker to diagnose and monitor disease progression..

http://www.news-medical.net/news/20160310/Small-sensitive-biosensors-could-help-personalize-treatment-for-Alzheimers-disease.aspx