Novel high-sensitivity detector could aid in early Alzheimer’s diagnosis

Novel high-sensitivity detector could aid in early Alzheimer's diagnosis
Image 1: Overall view of the transistor section of the sensor, including the liquid layer. The amount of current that flows through the liquid between the source and drain is determined by the voltage of the top gate. Ionic fluids such as saltwater are good conductors of electricity. Credit: NIST

A prime suspect in the onset of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases is a normally benign enzyme that is essential to proper development of the nervous system. Under certain conditions, however, its chemical structure changes and it goes rogue, contributing to the neural devastation that accompanies dementia.

Researchers around the world are intensely investigating this enzyme, called Cdk5, to understand its…

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