Amyloid PET May Unlock Key to Alzheimer’s Early Diagnosis

Alzheimer’s disease is considered the most common form of dementia. This progressive disease slowly robs people of their memories and very identity as plaques form on the brain, altering its very function. While no cure yet exists for Alzheimer’s disease, there are treatments available to slow progression and help people enjoy a more or less normal routine a bit longer. Therein lies the crux. As it stands, Alzheimer’s disease also lacks a definitive test. While post-morbidity autopsies show the rate of accurate diagnosis is about 70 to 80 percent at present, a more definitive tool is required to ensure everyone who could benefit from early interventions gains proper access.

Enter a new PET screening exam. Amyloid PET scans are designed to identify the plaques in the brain associated with Alzheimer’s disease. By enabling clinicians to see these formations, they deliver a more accurate way to diagnose or rule out Alzheimer’s disease. The scans use a special biomarker that has been shown so far to be about 90 percent accurate in detecting amyloid plaques when compared to issue samples after death.

Amyloid PET scans are considered a major step forward in Alzheimer’s treatment for a variety of reasons. Here are just a few of them:

• More accurate diagnosis – Alzheimer’s might be the most common form of dementia, but it’s far from the only one. An accurate diagnosis is critical for patients and doctors to gain a true understanding of the condition presented and what to expect as time passes.
• More accurate treatments – Alzheimer’s does not have a cure, but there are methods for slowing its progression. Proper diagnosis is critical to this end. It is also important to note that other forms of dementia may have very different treatment protocols, making accuracy in diagnosis essential for ensuring patients receive proper interventions to assure a high quality of life for as long as possible.

It is estimated that about 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease. This progressive disease begins when amyloid plaque begins to form on the brain. Over time, the disease progresses to the point people are no longer able to communicate or function in their normal routines. While a cure is still elusive, proper diagnosis can lead to treatments that extend earlier phases of the disease by slowing the spread of amyloid. This is where proper diagnosis made more possible through amyloid PET scans can prove critical for patients and their loved ones.

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