New Brain Scans Can Accurately Diagnose Alzheimer’s In A Single Take

The time taken between speculating and confirmation of Alzheimer’s can be agonizing for not only the patient but their family as well. Now, there has been a breakthrough in the diagnosis of this disease, significantly cutting down the waiting time so patients and loved ones can have peace of mind.

Imperial College London has found a way to use a single scan to identify whether someone has Alzheimer’s or not. With an impressively high rate of diagnosis and accuracy, this one image can also determine how far along the disease has progressed.

Using a single MRI scan, researchers utilize the same procedure in identifying cancerous tumors to examine the brain. They have trained the algorithm to study 115 different regions and 660 different aspects of the brain, such as the size and shape, to carefully identify whether Alzheimer’s is present.  

Currently, brain scans are used to check the hippocampus, the part that controls memory functions, for shrinkage and for the presence of tau protein. However, the researchers are now zeroing in on areas like the cerebellum and the ventral diencephalon, which are responsible for coordination and sensory perception respectively.

This new method allowed for 95% accuracy in diagnosis and 78% accuracy in determining the progression of the disease. Scientists at Imperial College London used a 1.5 Tesla MRI machine that also has machine-learning capabilities to help it study different scans and provide accurate results.  

Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia, and while there is no cure for cognitive decline, catching it in the early stages is key to making sure quality of life does not drastically deteriorate.  

Previously, patients had to go through lifestyle discussions, medication trials, and neurological testing. Coupled with long waiting times, it’s easy to see why researchers have been trying to find a way to quicken the process. This breakthrough could reduce the diagnosis process to just a single scan.  

[via BioSpace and ScienceDaily, Photo 89225915 © Dedmityay | Dreamstime.com]