Early detection of amyloid aggregation using intrinsic fluorescence

Beta-amyloid (Aβ) aggregation, believed to be responsible for Alzheimer's disease, is monitored using its intrinsic fluorescence decay. Alterations in the fluorescence decay of tyrosine correlate with the Aβ aggregation at a much earlier stage than the traditionally used fluorescence intensity of Thioflavin T (ThT). Potentially the finding may underpin progress towards an earlier diagnosis of the onset of Alzheimer's disease and an improved approach to developing intervention therapies.