Abstract: DMS present in the brain of individuals susceptible to cerebral amyloidosis disintegrate into DMS components to form cerebral amyloid plaques and other DMS components that are removed from the brain via circulating bodily fluids. Detecting the presence of these removed DMS components in circulating bodily fluids provides a diagnostic mechanism to determine the onset of cerebral amyloid plaque formation. Antibodies also can be raised against isolated DMS components and subsequently utilized in a diagnostic method capable of detecting the onset of cerebral amyloid plaque formation.

Abstract: Dense microspheres can be extracted and purified to substantial homogeneity from mammalian brain tissue, and used in the screening of therapies for potential effectiveness in impeding the formation of amyloid fibrils associated with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of cerebral amyloidosis. Compounds that, at in-tissue concentrations of 10.sup.-5 M or less, inhibit amyloid formation in a test animal injected intracerebrally with dense microspheres are particularly useful in inhibiting treating cerebral amyloidosis. Antibodies to DMS (dense microspheres) are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for detecting the ability of a compound to prevent development of red-to-green congophilic birefringence. The method is carried out by contacting the compound with dense microspheres which are derived from mammalian brain tissue and which, when disrupted, display red-to-green congophilic birefringence upon staining with Congo Red dye under conditions such that said dense microspheres are disrupted. Thereafter the disrupted dense microspheres are stained with Congo Red dye and any development of red-to-green congophilic birefringence in the stained disrupted dense microspheres is detected.

Abstract: Dense microspheres extracted and purified to homogeneity from whole brains and used in in vitro and in vivo screening tests for the detection of therapies effective in impeding amyloid formation and disease progression in human brain in Alzheimer's disease and related conditions.