Specialized MRI scan may be able to predict Alzheimer's disease

Research conducted by Swiss scientists has indicated that certain brain imaging techniques may be effective at identifying which patients with mild cognitive disorders are most at risk for develop Alzheimer's disease later on. HealthDay reports that radiologists at the University of Geneva used specialized MRI scans and artificial intelligence to make their predictions.


The study, whose results were published in the online edition of the journal Radiology, examined scans of 35 healthy individuals and scans of 69 patients with mild cognitive impairment.

The images showed that those with cognitive impairment had a greater chance at leaks in blood vessels than healthy subjects.


The findings may be important because it can offer doctors a way to diagnose the mental illness earlier, which can significantly improve one's chances of managing the disease.


"Our results help to identify subjects at risk for cognitive decline at an early stage, which might result in an earlier and more specific treatment," lead researcher Dr Sven Haller told the news source.


According to the Alzheimer's Association, the mental illness currently affects 5.3 million Americans, and is the seventh leading cause of death.


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