Early Neurological Disorder Detection

• 10 Jul 2024

Why in News?

According to the sources, the researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology-Banaras Hindu University (BHU) Varanasi have developed a groundbreaking 'lab-on-chip' device that can detect early-stage diseases with remarkable accuracy. 

Key Points

• This innovative breakthrough holds the potential to transform healthcare by enabling faster and more reliable identification of neurological conditions like Parkinson's disease, depression, and Schizophrenia.
• The innovation by the scientists at the Nanomaterials for Electronics and Energy Devices (NEED) lab at IIT-BHU has the potential to revolutionize the comprehension of brain function and pave the way for new treatments for neurological disorders at a very early stage. 
• The newly developed device incorporating metallic nanoparticle decorated atomically-thin, two-dimensional (2D) semiconductor leverages advanced Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) technology. 
  • This allows for the detection of minute concentrations of neurotransmitters like dopamine with unparalleled precision and speed.
• The implications of such innovation are profound, where developing novel materials and transforming them into a device could potentially support the various national missions of device manufacturing, as proposed by the Government of India.

Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS)

• SERS is a commonly used sensing technique in which inelastic light scattering by molecules is greatly enhanced when the molecules are adsorbed onto corrugated metal surfaces such as silver or gold nanoparticles (NPs).
• It enhances the Raman scattering light from molecules, thus leading to effective analysis of the molecules.

Parkinson’s Disease

• Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that impairs movement and can lead to immobility and dementia over time.
• The disease usually occurs in older people, but younger people can also be affected. Men are affected more often than women.
• The prevalence of Parkinson has doubled in the past 25 years. India shares around 10% of the global burden of Parkinson's disease.

Schizophrenia

• It is a severe mental disorder, characterized by profound disruptions in thinking, affecting language, perception, and the sense of self. It affects more than 21 million people worldwide.
• Researchers believe that genetic as well as environmental factors such as exposure to viruses contribute to causation, and also life stressors may play a role in the disorder’s onset and course.