Blood-based near-infrared spectroscopy for the rapid low-cost detection of Alzheimer's disease. Issue 24 (5th September 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Paraskevaidi, Maria; Morais, Camilo L. M.; Freitas, Daniel L. D.; Lima, Kássio M. G.; Mann, David M. A.; Allsop, David; Martin-Hirsch, Pierre L.; Martin, Francis L.
• Is Part Of: Analyst. Volume 143:Issue 24(2018)
• Page Start: 5959
• Page End: 5964
• Publication Date: 2018-09-05
• Subjects: Chemistry, Analytic -- Periodicals; 543
• DOI: 10.1039/c8an01205a
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0003-2654

Abstract

Abstract : Plasma samples deposited on low-E slides were analysed in transmission mode by using a FT-NIR spectrometer in order to detect Alzheimer's disease using computer-based methods. Abstract : Alzheimer's disease (AD) is currently under-diagnosed and is predicted to affect a great number of people in the future, due to the unrestrained aging of the population. An accurate diagnosis of AD at an early stage, prior to (severe) symptomatology, is of crucial importance as it would allow the subscription of effective palliative care and/or enrolment into specific clinical trials. Today, new analytical methods and research initiatives are being developed for the on-time diagnosis of this devastating disorder. During the last decade, spectroscopic techniques have shown great promise in the robust diagnosis of various pathologies, including neurodegenerative diseases and dementia. In the current study, blood plasma samples were analysed with near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy as a minimally-invasive method to distinguish patients with AD ( n = 111) from non-demented volunteers ( n = 173). After applying multivariate classification models (principal component analysis with quadratic discriminant analysis – PCA-QDA), AD individuals were correctly identified with 92.8% accuracy, 87.5% sensitivity and 96.1% specificity. Our results show the potential of NIR spectroscopy as a simple and cost-effective diagnostic tool for AD. Robust and early diagnosis may be a first step towards tackling this disease by allowing timely intervention.