Objective: To investigate biochemical differences in neuronal, vascular and neuropil regions of post mortem brain tissue from Parkinsons disease and Alzheimers disease using Raman microscopy.
Background: Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimers disease are progressive neurodegenerative disorders characterised by neuronal degeneration and abnormal protein accumulation. Conventional diagnostic approaches rely largely on clinical symptoms and neuropathological examination. Raman spectroscopy provides a non-destructive method capable of detecting biochemical alterations in tissues, including changes in protein and lipid composition associated with neurodegeneration.
Method: Post mortem brain tissue microarrays from Parkinsons disease, Alzheimers disease and a non neurodegenerative control were analyzed. Formalin fixed paraffin embedded tissue sections were deparaffinised and examined using Raman microscopy with a 785 nm laser. Spectra were obtained from neurons, blood vessels and neuropil across tissue arrays. Approximately ninety spectra were collected and analyzed using visual inspection and principal component analysis.
Results: Raman spectra demonstrated biochemical differences between neurodegenerative and control tissues. Neuronal spectra from Parkinsons and Alzheimers disease showed similar patterns within the 1000 to 1700 cm⁻¹ region but differed from controls. Blood vessel spectra in both diseases showed greater variability compared with control tissue. Principal component analysis indicated increased protein and lipid signals in neuronal and vascular regions of Parkinsons and Alzheimers disease tissues relative to controls.
Conclusion: Raman microscopy can detect biochemical alterations within neuronal and vascular components of neurodegenerative brain tissue. Increased protein and lipid signals observed in Parkinsons and Alzheimers disease support the potential of Raman spectroscopy as a tool for investigating molecular pathology and identifying biomarkers in neurodegenerative disorders.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
A. Omirude, A. Yusuf, S. Eze. Raman Spectroscopic Identification of Biochemical Alterations in Post Mortem Brain Tissue Microarrays from Parkinsons and Alzheimers Disease [abstract]. Mov Disord. 2026; 41 (suppl 1). https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/raman-spectroscopic-identification-of-biochemical-alterations-in-post-mortem-brain-tissue-microarrays-from-parkinsons-and-alzheimers-disease/. Accessed October 1, 2026.« Back to 2026 International Congress
MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/raman-spectroscopic-identification-of-biochemical-alterations-in-post-mortem-brain-tissue-microarrays-from-parkinsons-and-alzheimers-disease/