GAINESVILLE, Fla., Feb. 23 (UPI) -- University of Florida scientists say they can pinpoint and identify tiny iron oxide particles associated with Alzheimer's and similar brain diseases.
They say their technique is likely to accelerate research on the cause of neurodegenerative brain diseases, and could lead to the first diagnostic procedure for Alzheimer's in patients while they are alive.
"We're the first to be able to tell you both the location of the particles and what kind of particles they are," said Mark Davidson, a University of Florida materials science engineer.
Alzheimer's, Huntington's and Parkinson's diseases affect millions of Americans and cost billions of dollars annually for patient treatment and care. Alzheimer's is the most common of the three, afflicting 4.5 million Americans -- with numbers projected to grow as baby boomers age.
The diseases share some potential symptoms, including physical impairments and dementia.
Davidson and collaborators at UF and Keele University in England have published at least four articles on their research in scholarly journals. Their latest article has been accepted for publication in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.
