Tel Aviv, Dec. 14 -- Israeli and Dutch researchers have unveiled a new technique that allows scientists to precisely measure toxic protein clumps associated with Alzheimer's disease -- something that has long been out of reach and could open new paths for studying and eventually diagnosing dementia.

The technology, known as FibrilPaint combined with the FibrilRuler test, makes it possible to directly measure the length of Tau amyloid fibrils while they are still suspended in fluid, even at extremely low concentrations. Because the buildup and growth of these fibrils are closely linked to Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, the ability to quantify their size represents a major advance for the field.

The research was led by Prof. A...