METHOD FOR DIAGNOSING ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE SPECTRUM NEUROCOGNITIVE DISORDERS FROM TEAR SAMPLE, AND SOLUTION AND DIAGNOSTIC KIT USEFUL IN THE METHOD

摘要

The invention relates to an aqueous solution of AuCl₃x2H₂O or HAuCl₄x4H₂O, ZnCI₂ or ZnSO₄, and AgNO₃ having an Au³⁺ concentration of 0.8 mM-1.6 mM, a Zn²⁺ concentration of 15 μΜ-50 μΜ, and an Ag⁺ concentration of 5 μΜ-50 μΜ. The invention extends to a kit comprising a solution of the invention, a method of preparing said solution, and the use of a solution of the invention, a solution prepared by a method of the invention, or a kit of the invention in predicting and/or diagnosing and/or monitoring a neurocognitive disorder of the Alzheimer's disease spectrum. The invention extends to a method for predicting and/or diagnosing and/or monitoring a neurocognitive disorder of the Alzheimer's disease spectrum in a patient comprising contacting a tear sample from the patient normalised for protein concentration with a solution of the invention; applying an amount of the tear sample thus obtained to a surface; allowing the tear sample to dry; and drawing a conclusion based on the pattern of the thus obtained dried tear sample, whether the patient is at risk of or suffers from a neurocognitive disorder of the Alzheimer's disease spectrum.