According to a new research which spanned more than ten years, positron emission tomography (PET) has been found to be useful in detecting most of the different forms of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, with accurate precision. The research, which has been published in the latest issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine, evaluated several PET studies and found that a molecular imaging technique which combines an injected biomarker, called 18F-FDG, with PET is effective in delineating areas of metabolic decline in the brain. These areas represent the regions of dementia.
According to Dr. Nicolaas Bohnen, from the University of Michigan, the lead author of the study, diagnosing dementia in younger patients or those who have very subtle signs of the disease, can be a difficult job for any physician. However, the new technique can help the doctor in diagnosing the disease with confidence, in such patients. Moreover, it can also help the physician in differentiating between various disorders leading to dementia. For example, one can differentiate between Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and fronto-temporal dementia. One can differentiate between different causes of dementia so clearly with the help of molecular imaging studies, that these differences have been included in the new criteria for diagnosing patients of dementia.
A radionuclide combined with Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) is the key ingredient of the PET biomarker 18F- FDG. This component resembles the glucose molecule in its structure and is taken up the body cells throughout the body. Subsequent imaging can help in identifying various diseases. Reduction in the metabolism of different lobes of cerebral cortex can help in the identification of dementia. Depending on the cortices and regions of brain affected, one can differentiate between various conditions leading to dementia. The earlier the dementia and the disease leading to it are diagnosed, the better it is for the patient. It can reduce the uncertainty being faced by the patient and his family and also helps in the early initiation of the treatment.
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