Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative disease, which is a progressive form of dementia. Often seen in senior patients over the age of 65, Alzheimer’s can have symptoms that may overlap with dementia and other conditions such as Parkinson’s disease. One of the early signs of Alzheimer’s dementia is memory loss. Patients also have a hard time concentrating and focusing on specific things. Confusion, inability to remember dates and tasks, and depression are often diagnosed as symptoms as Alzheimer’s progresses. There is no one test for Alzheimer’s disease, but doctors may recommend brain-imaging tests besides a physical exam and neuropsychological tests. If you are in Idaho, you can check at Intermountain Medical Imaging for these brain-imaging tests. 

The need for brain-imaging tests

Alzheimer’s disease is related to progressive loss of brain cells, also called degeneration of brain cells. It should be noted that brain-imaging tests aren’t always enough for diagnosing Alzheimer’s. However, these tests come in handy for ruling out other causes that may have similar symptoms, such as brain tumors and strokes. Also, tests come in handy to diagnose and find more on other degenerative brain diseases besides Alzheimer’s. To know the memory function and cognitive abilities of a patient, physicians may do other tests, including blood tests to rule out vitamin deficiencies or conditions like thyroid disorder. 

Common brain imaging tests

1. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This is the most common imaging tests that done to diagnose various conditions and diseases related to the brain. An MRI test relies on radio waves to give a detailed view and images of the brain. For Alzheimer’s disease, an MRI is usually more preferred to a CT scan. 
2. Computerized tomography (CT). A CT scan relies on X-rays to get sliced images (also called cross-sectional images) of the brain.  
3. Positron emission tomography (PET). Simply called the PET scan, this test is done to find substances in the body. For Alzheimer’s, fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET scan is usually recommended, which can find regions in the brain that have reduced “glucose metabolism”. New PET scans can also find plaques in the brain, which is associated with Alzheimer’s disease. 

There is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, but early diagnosis can come in handy for better treatment and management of symptoms. See a doctor if you believe that an older parent or a senior family member has signs of Alzheimer’s. Besides medication, empathy and emotional support matter hugely for those with Alzheimer’s disease.