Last updated: Friday, July 08, 2005
Two studies that assess the usefulness of brain imaging in detecting signs of Alzheimer's disease have found evidence that PET scans (Positron Emission Tomography) can find early signs of the memory-loss disease.
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Both studies appear in the November-December issue of the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry.
According to a news release from the journal, the first study, conducted by researchers at Columbia University, found that a genetic variant linked to increased Alzheimer's risk processed memory information differently than brains that didn't carry the deviant gene. The PET scans allowed scientists to discover the difference, even though there were no outward signs of memory problems, researchers said.
The second report is a confirmation of earlier studies that the PET scan can be used to discover brain deposits known as beta-amyloid plaques, which experts believe to be the most noticeable physical evidence of the presence of Alzheimer's.
The research was conducted on patients at the Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care, the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health PET Center, and the University of Toronto, all in Canada. – (HealthDayNews)
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