Ocular diagnosis of alzheimer's disease

Abstract

The invention features a method of diagnosing or providing a prognosis regarding the state of Alzheimer's Disease in a mammal by contacting an ocular tissue with a detectably-labeled compound, which binds to an amyloid protein. An increase in binding of the compound to the ocular tissue compared to a normal control level of binding indicates that the mammal is suffering from or is at risk of developing Alzheimer's Disease.

1 . A composition comprising a detectably-labeled compound and an excipient, wherein: 
 said detectably-labeled compound preferentially binds to an amyloid protein located in ocular tissue;    said detectably-labeled compound comprises a fluorophor;    said detectably-labeled compound is lipophilic;    said excipient improves penetration of said detectably-labeled compound into ocular tissue; and    wherein said composition is used to image ocular tissue.    
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said composition is a liquid or an ointment.  
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said excipient is DMSO.  
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said fluorophor emits a wavelength of light outside the blue-green spectra.  
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said fluorophor emits a wavelength of light greater than 520 nm.  
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said fluorophor emits a wavelength of light in the infrared range.  
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said fluorophor emits a wavelength less than 450 nm.  
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said fluorophor comprises a Chrysamine compound.  
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said compound preferentially binds to an amyloid-β (Aβ) polypeptide.  
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said compound preferentially binds to Aβ (1-42).  
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said fluorophor is {(trans, trans), -1-bromo-2,5-bis-(3-hydroxycarbonyl-4-hyrdoxy)styrlbenzene (BSB)}.  
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said ocular tissue comprises a cortical region of an eye.  
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said ocular tissue comprises a supranuclear region of an eye.  
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said ocular tissue comprises an aqueous humor region of an eye.  
     
     
         15 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said increase is at least 10% greater than said normal control value.  
     
     
         16 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said increase is at least 25% greater than said normal control value.  
     
     
         17 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said increase is at least 50% greater than said normal control value.  
     
     
         18 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said increase is at least 100% greater than said normal control value.