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Abstract

Alzheimer’s disease is a condition where neurons within the brain either stop functioning or lose connections with other neurons. It is the most common cause of dementia and as of right now currently, it is irreversible and progessive. Early symptoms of Alzheimer's include language problems, difficulty performing tasks that require thought, personality changes and loss of social skills. Alzheimer’s disease is usually diagnosed and evaluated through CT, MRI and PET scans after the initial symptoms occur. CT and MRI imaging is used to rule out problems related to Alzheimer’s such as a tumor, hemorrhage, stroke and hydrocephalus. These scans can also show the loss of brain mass. However, if the hippocampus is shown to shrink in size, this can be related to Alzheimer's disease. ​Now, if CT and MRI scans are inconclusive, PET scans are used to help in the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. They provide images of the brain’s activity based on blood flow, oxygen consumption and glucose use. If there are any deficiencies in any of these areas, alzheimer’s may be present.​The diagnostic capability of brain scans is improving, especially with PET scans. There is a specific PET scan that uses a chemical tracer that binds specifically to amyloid deposits, allowing them to show up clearly on the readings.