Nuclear MR (NMR) spectroscopy, a new method of testing that can assess a tissue metabolic profile, offers a noninvasive technique for distinguishing between different neurological disorders in patients and may enable earlier diagnosis, according to a study published online in March in the Journal of Comparative Neurology.

Scientists at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease in Honolulu this week presented the first draft reports from three workgroups convened by the National Institute on Aging and the Alzheimer's Association to update the diagnostic criteria for Alzheimer's disease for the first time in 25 years.

FDG-PET and episodic memory performance predict conversion from mild cognitive impairment to Alzheimer’s disease, according to a study published in the July edition of Neurology. Physicians and researchers could use the biomarker combination to identify patients who would benefit from treatment when it becomes available and also to select subjects for clinical trials of therapeutic agents.

Visual assessment of 11C-PIB images showed the best combination of sensitivity and specificity and holds promise as a supportive diagnostic marker for Alzheimer's disease, according to a study published June 11 in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry.

A new database of more than 4,000 Alzheimer’s disease patients who have participated in 11 industry-sponsored clinical trials was released by the Coalition Against Major Diseases. This database will combine clinical trials to be shared by pharmaceutical companies and made available to researchers.

Major developments in molecular imaging’s ability to detect and facilitate treatment of Alzheimer's disease and prostate cancer were among the key scientific papers highlighted last week at the 57th annual SNM conference in Salt Lake City by Past President Peter S. Conti, MD, PhD. The papers were among many more presented, which included 88 platform sessions with 600 oral presentations and 825 scientific poster presentations.

Cure Alzheimer's Fund has awarded the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and the University of Houston a $150,000 grant to fund research on Alzheimer's disease focusing on image-based diagnosis and treatment.

A new PET imaging technique developed at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), along with patient-specific information on Alzheimer's disease risk, can help diagnose and track brain aging before symptoms appear, according to research published in the January issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry.

MRI scans that detect shrinkage in specific regions of the mid-brain attacked by Alzheimer's disease accurately diagnose the neurodegenerative disease, even before symptoms interfere with daily function, according to a study results published this month in Neurology.

Individuals with higher education levels appear to score better on cognitive tests despite having evidence of brain plaques associated with Alzheimer's disease, according to a study in the November issue of Archives of Neurology.

In a twist on nontraditional uses of ultrasound, a group of neuroscientists at Arizona State University (ASU) has developed pulsed ultrasound techniques that can remotely stimulate brain circuit activity, according to a study published in the Oct. 29 issue of PLoS One.

GE Healthcare, Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals and Avid Radiopharmaceuticals met Thursday with an FDA advisory panel to discuss the development of new imaging markers, which could aid in the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD).

Philips Research reported it has successfully concluded a usability and feasibility study of its decision support software tool for the automatic evaluation of dementia using PET image data.