Indian-Origin UK Boy Develops a Way to Detect Alzheimer’s Disease

Krtin Nithiyanandam, a 15-year-old boy from UK has developed a ‘trojan horse’ antibody to detect Alzheimer’s disease.

The 15-year-old Krtin Nithiyanandam. (Photo: Facebook/Krtin Nithiyanandam)

A 15-year-old Indian-origin boy in the UK has developed a potential test for Alzheimer’s, which can allow diagnosis 10 years before the first symptoms of the disease appear, and even check its progression.

Krtin Nithiyanandam of Epsom, Surrey, has developed a ‘trojan horse’ antibody which can penetrate the brain and attach to neurotoxic proteins which are present in the very first stages of the disease.

The antibodies, which would be injected into the bloodstream are also attached to fluorescent particles which can then be picked up on a brain scan.

Krtin, who attends Sutton Grammar School, submitted his test to the Google Science Fair Prize and learned that he had made it through to the final last week. He will find out next month if he has won a prestigious scholarship and mentoring to develop his idea further.