In vivo optical signatures of neuronal death in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease

Background There currently is a need for cost-effective, quantitative techniques to evaluate the gradual progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Measurement techniques based on diffuse optical spectroscopy can detect blood perfusion and brain cellular composition changes, through measuring the absorption (µa) and reduced scattering (µs′) coefficients, respectively, using non-ionizing near-infrared light. Previous work has shown that brain perfusion deficits in an AD mouse model can be detected. The objective of this study was to determine if µs′ is sensitive to the inflammation and neuron death found in AD.