New scanning images give early warning of Alzheimer’s

The early signs of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Diseases can now be spotted by a new technique for creating images of the living brain developed by Australian scientists at Melbourne’s Howard Florey Institute.

Using “phase contrast” images the Melbourne researchers have been able to identify tiny deposits of metal inside the brain which are thought to be the first indications of the diseases.

Associate Professor Gary Egan said that there was exquisite detail in the images taken by a high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging scanner.

“Our objective is to identify it five or 10 years earlier in people who are possibly going to develop the diseases. Protective therapies can then prevent further loss”.

The Melbourne team was forced to use a scanner based in Korea for their work as Australia does not at present have a machine capable of such precision. The Howard Florey Institute is trying to raise funds for one.