This Fluorescent Probe Could Help Distinguish Alzheimer’s from Aging
As seen in Technology Networks

One of the cruellest things about Alzheimer’s disease is how long it goes unnoticed. By the time most people receive a diagnosis, significant and irreversible damage has already been done. The window for effective treatment has often already closed.

Dr. Yanyan Zhao, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Cambridge, is trying to change that. At ELRIG Drug Discovery 2025 in Liverpool, she spoke to Technology Networks about a novel fluorescent probe her team has developed that can detect the earliest toxic signs of Alzheimer’s. Current diagnostic tools can take up to a decade before detecting this. 

What makes it particularly exciting is its selectivity. Where existing probes fall short, this one can tell the difference between a healthy brain and a diseased one and even track how the disease is progressing over time.