A new 3-D imaging technique gives a stunningly detailed look at a human brain affected by Alzheimer’s

Scientists took the brains of deceased Alzheimer’s patients, soaked them in a liquid that gives the fats in the brain an electric charge, then exposed them to an opposite charge that casts all of the fats out. That makes the brain transparent and hard — and gives scientists a clear look at the plaque patterns known to be a hallmark of Alzheimer’s. The researchers hope the technique could be use to classify different categories of Alzheimer’s by combining the brain images with medical records that detail a patient’s cognitive symptoms.

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