Whilst developing an Improved Explosive Device detection method in 2014, researchers from South Australia’s University of Adelaide discovered an ulterior use. They found that, in addition to its primary purpose, it could also be used to detect vitamins within the bloodstream that were linked to dementia.The same method that is being used to detect explosive residue is now also being used to detect excess levels of vitamin B12 in human blood. Scientists believe that this has huge potential to develop into a fully-fledged method for dementia and Alzheimer’s detection.Although still being modified for medical use, Head Investigator Georgi's Tsiminis said that the technique could also be used to identify a variety of other diseases.“We shine a light onto a blood sample that gives us a measurement of the amount of vitamin B12, which is linked to dementia,” he said.
“It’s a more efficient and cost-effective alternative to normal methods that could be applied to a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. Our sensor is an early first step towards a point-of-care solution for measuring and tracking B12 in healthy ageing adults. This would allow doctors to monitor B12 levels and intervene as soon as B12 deficiency was detected.”By utilizing fiber-optics and a laser, the new method is able to collect the signature left by specific molecules. By shining concentrated light through a vial containing human blood, vitamin B12 molecules can be forced to vibrate, giving away their presence.The optical fiber then collects information on the molecules’ signature, passing it onto a spectrometer. By carefully analyzing the molecules’ signature, the spectrometer is then able to determine which specific molecule it was left by.Dr Tsiminis is excited about the discovery, as typical vitamin B12 detection methods often take around 2 days. His method takes all of 30 seconds.Vitamin B12 is an incredibly complex vitamin and it plays an essential role in the day-to-day functioning of the brain and the health of blood cells and nerve tissue.Although not typically located in vegetables, vitamin B12 can be found in rich supply within many animal products.The World Health Organization has published statistics on dementia, claiming that there are roughly 47.5 million sufferers worldwide. With numbers at that level, it’s understandable that dementia care can be difficult to find. To intensify the number, 50–70% of those dementia patients are believed to have Alzheimer’s, one of the most serious forms of the disease.Dr Tsiminis is optimistic about the results for dementia care and initial detection, but is aware that a great deal of further research is required.“The next step has to do with showing that the sensitivity limit can be reduced but we need a wider scale study, across different blood types, to show that down the line this is something that can be applied to a wider population.”, he said.“Time and cost limitations currently mean that regular and frequent B12 measurements are not being carried out. When you go to the doctor or the nurse, among st the other results you get for blood, vitamin B12 could one day be included.”