PET Scans Measuring Glucose More Effective at Assessing Alzheimer’s Progression than Amyloid Scans, Study Finds


New research has found that measuring glucose PET scans are better indicators of the advancement of Alzheimer's disease compared to amyloid PET scans. A medical trial targeting beta-amyloid plaque was carried out. It indicates that toxic proteins and shortage of glucose in the brain as people get old can lead to Alzheimer's disease.

The research carried out in Perelman School of Medicine in the University of Pennsylvania, and Thomas Jefferson University shows that FDG-PET makes a better diagnosis on the progress of Alzheimer's disease and MCI compared to florbetapir-PET scans which measure amyloid levels. The FDG PET scan checks the brain's glucose intake and its effect on neurons, thus providing the doctor with a better understanding of Alzheimer treatments work.

FDG-PET and florbetapir-PET scans are recommendable diagnosis methods for Alzheimer’s disease. They also appear to show a form of cognitive impairment. However, studies reveal that FDG-PET is much precise, and cheaply accessible for routine use.

Current Alzheimer diagnosis is achieved by collecting cerebral spinal fluid or a PET scan. Although PET scans are expensive, they help physicians assess the disease's severity and know if the patient has mild cognitive impairment.

PET scans also use radioactive drugs and radiotracers in measuring glucose uptake and amounts of amyloid plaques in the brain. Another useful scan is through florbetapir-PET. This is a drug injection that doctors use to check amyloid levels.

Some physicians have been questioning the effectiveness of using amyloid levels to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease since healthy patients have high levels of amyloid in the brain.

In sum, findings show that FDG-PET is effective in determining levels of cognitive decline since it measures the brain's glucose consumption. Amyloid imaging can confirm the availability of Alzheimer’s disease though it can't indicate its severity. It is vital to carry out an FDG-PET scan than amyloid imaging, in figuring out an effective therapy.
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