In-vivo and in-vitro techniques used to investigate Alzheimer's disease

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the most common neurological diseases. It is characterized by the presence of β-amyloid peptides and highly phosphorylated tau proteins in the brain. The study of AD became more reliable with the development of new advances in both in-vivo (e.g. positron emission tomography, single-photon emission computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, functional magnetic resonance imaging, diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging, and diffusion and perfusion magnetic resonance imaging) and in-vitro (e.g. circular dichroism, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, dye binding, transmission electron microscopy, scanning transmission electron microscopy, scanning tunnelling microscopy, atomic force microscopy and fluorescence resonance energy transfer) methods. These methods are used in the study of the pathogenesis and diagnosis of AD. Each method has its own advantages and limitations. This review explains the significance of different methods in understanding the pathogenesis of AD.