New brain scanner makes dementia visible earlier

Significantly smaller and cheaper: Thanks to new devices detect dementia earlier

In Germany alone, about 1.2 million people suffer from dementia, the majority of them from Alzheimer's. There are around 47 million dementia patients worldwide. Curable, the neurodegenerative disease is not yet. However, if diagnosed early, it may be stopped. A new brain scanner could help detect dementia earlier.

Early diagnosis important

As with many other diseases, it is important in Alzheimer's disease to diagnose the disease as early as possible. Although the disease can not be cured at this time, there are indications that a delay in the course of the disease can be achieved if diagnosed early. A new brain scanner developed by researchers at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich could be helpful here.

In Switzerland, researchers are currently working on a new brain scanner designed to improve the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. The device should be cheaper and take up less space than the ones currently in use. (Image: Nomad_Soul / fotolia.com)

Young researchers are working on new PE brain scanner

The two particle physicists Jannis Fischer and Max Ahnen are improving the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease.

According to a statement from the Swiss university, the young researchers are currently developing a PET brain scanner that is less expensive and should be smaller than the one currently used.

For this she has included the US business magazine "Forbes" in her "30 Under 30 Europe 2018" list in the category of science and health, which honors every year "the most intelligent young entrepreneurs and inventors" in different areas.

"We are proud that we made it onto the list," says 30-year-old Jannis Fischer, whose colleague is 29 years old. "Next year we would have been too old for that."

Imaging process for the detection of various diseases

Positron emission tomography, or PET for short, is an imaging procedure in nuclear medicine. It is mainly used for the detection of cancer, but also of nervous and heart diseases.

For this, the patient is injected with a weak radioactive substance into the arm vein. The type and location where the substance accumulates in the tissue is processed by the PET scanner into an image.

This image provides information about which functions the corresponding body part exercises. PET scanners can help to detect certain nervous disorders ten to twenty years earlier, before a doctor can make a diagnosis based on specific symptoms.

The problem, why this is not done: Today's devices are big and expensive. A conventional device needs at least 15 square meters of space and costs between 1.5 and 5.5 million Swiss francs (approximately between 1.27 and 4.67 million euros).

Cheaper and smaller

Ancestors and fishermen work at the Institute for Particle and Astrophysics of ETH Zurich to change this situation. The impetus was given by researchers and doctors from the University of Zurich and the University Hospital Zurich.

Her invention is provisionally called Brain PET (BPET) and is used to detect diseases of the brain. These include brain tumors and diseases of the nervous system such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson's or Alzheimer's disease.

BPET should cost only one-tenth as much as today's devices. In addition, the scanner should measure less than two square meters. "It's like a hairdressing coiffure chair," says Ahnen. The size makes it much more mobile than conventional devices.

As a result, doctors could also use him in places away from large hospitals, such as in small clinics in South America, Asia or Africa.

Not only the device, but also its application is cheaper with Brain PET. Because the more often the procedure is used, the less the radioactive auxiliaries cost.

Today, the study is one of the most expensive imaging techniques in modern medicine. Many clinics can not afford that. "We will be able to reach much broader population groups than before," says Fischer.

That would help those affected, but also their relatives. Both physicists had dementia patients in the family.

"It's hard to see a personality decay," says Ahnen. The father of three young children wants to improve the situation for the next generation.

Company is about to start

Still there is BPET only on paper. The two are just starting their own company and to build a prototype until September 2018.

Ancestors and fishermen have already dealt with the PET scanners during and after their doctoral thesis at the ETH. "It was clear to me: you can really improve something here," says Ahnen. At the ETH, the two physicists from Germany are exactly in the right place.

"The close cooperation of physicians and particle physicists creates space for new developments," explains Fischer, adding: "The knowledge is there. Here you are swimming in an ecosystem of experts. "

Brain PET is expected to hit the market in 2021. That is "optimistic but realistic". The timing is important: At this time, pharmaceutical companies are also planning to introduce new Alzheimer medicines.

These are to be used - in line with early PET detection - to combat dementia-causing diseases before the brain substance degrades. (Ad)