Towards better detection of Alzheimer's disease

Improved early detection of Alzheimer's
Early diagnosis can bring significant benefits to patients in Alzheimer's. Because the disease is so far not curable, but their course can be significantly delayed, so that those affected can live longer their usual everyday life. Professor Michael Ewers of the Ludwig-Maximillians-Universität München (LMU) and colleagues have therefore set themselves the goal of improving the early diagnosis of dementia. Their research is supported by a project funding from the Alzheimer Research Initiative, according to the LMU Communication.

Even years before the onset of dementia, Alzheimer's disease shows abnormal changes in the brain, reports the LMU. These early brain changes could be measured using "high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and other imaging techniques." Neuroscientist Professor Michael Ewers of LMU's Institute for Stroke and Dementia Research is an expert in the field. He investigates how changes in brain scan and other early signs of Alzheimer's disease can be made applicable for early detection. His project "Diagnostic procedure for the early detection of Alzheimer's disease" is funded with 80,000 euros by the non-profit Alzheimer Research Initiative.

LMU scientists are working to improve early detection of Alzheimer's disease. (Image: freshidea / fotolia.com)

Recognize Alzheimer risk profiles
According to the LMU, "imaging techniques, neuropsychological examinations, nerve and blood biomarkers offer a wealth of test methods" that can be used to diagnose early cognitive and cerebral changes in Alzheimer's disease. However, the identifiable risk profiles typical of Alzheimer's are often "only to be seen in the synopsis of the results of a number of important test procedures and to be used for diagnostic individual case decisions."

Fully automated procedure for early detection
The research team headed by Professor Michael Ewers tries to derive "algorithms for the early detection of the disease" on the basis of existing examination methods, according to the LMU communication. For this purpose, the results of imaging procedures, neuropsychological or genetic investigations are to be brought together. The goal is a fully automated computer-aided procedure, "so that with the help of as few, but meaningful tests can create a risk profile of the disease," says the LMU. The aim of the project is to enable physicians to "identify Alzheimer's risk in their patients as early as possible," explains the university. (Fp)