Dementia Diagnostics
Today’s advanced diagnostic imaging techniques can reveal the brain changes that cause Alzheimer’s disease. imagingwest uses cutting-edge technology to create brain images showing metabolic changes and clusters of the beta-amyloid plaques associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
What are dementia diagnostics?
If you’re concerned about your memory, doctors perform a quick Mini-Cog™ test, followed by in-depth cognitive testing. While these tests indicate memory challenges, they don’t reveal what’s happening in your brain.Dr. Riedl solves that problem with a PET/CT scan that creates images showing brain changes pointing to dementia. A PET/CT scan can reveal Alzheimer’s disease at its earliest stage.
Signs of dementia include:
Challenges planning or solving problems
Difficulty completing familiar tasks
Confusion about time or place
Trouble understanding visual images
Difficulty with speaking and/or writing
Withdrawal from work or social activities
Changes in mood and personality
Frequently misplacing items
Getting lost in familiar places
Diminished or poor judgment
When would I need dementia diagnostics?
Dementia refers to memory loss and a decline in cognitive abilities like reasoning, concentrating, and communicating. These changes are severe enough to disrupt your daily life and worsen as the underlying brain damage progresses.
How do dementia diagnostics work?
A PET/CT scan combines positron emission tomography (PET) with computed tomography (CT), using a cutting-edge machine that can do both at the same time.
CT scan.
A CT scan consists of a series of X-ray images taken from around your body. The images go to a computer that reassembles the cross-sections, producing detailed 3D images of the targeted brain structures.
PET scan
PET scans produce images by detecting radiotracers, drugs combined with a tiny dose of radiation. Radiotracers target certain types of cells. After they enter your body, they travel to those cells and briefly attach to them, allowing the PET scan to pick up their radiation signature and turn it into an image.
Advanced radiotracers
Neuraceq® attaches to beta-amyloid plaques in the brain, the clumps of protein that build up and cause Alzheimer’s disease. A Neuraceq scan can help your doctor diagnose Alzheimer’s and the extent of the brain affected by plaque.
F-18 deoxyglucose (FDG), sticks to cells using glucose (sugar), revealing functional abnormalities responsible for memory loss and cognitive changes.
FDG can also reveal other problems like brain tumors.If you or a loved one have signs of Alzheimer’s disease.
Helpful Information
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What you need for a PET-CT of the brain
-The examination costs are not reimbursed by the health insurance companies. Some private insurance companies cover part of the costs, you should definitely submit our fee note there.
-Depending on the medical question, an individual tracer is produced for your examination.
-If you cannot keep the appointment, we ask you to inform us of this no later than the day before by 12 noon, otherwise we will have to charge a cancellation fee.
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How a PET-CT of the brain works
-A PET-CT of the brain takes 20 minutes, including 90 minutes preparation time.
-We will inject you a small dose of the radioactive tracer substance specially prepared for you.
-The examination is carried out lying down in the examination tube.
-Drink plenty of fluids after the examination to speed up the elimination of the tracer.
-Please let us know if you suffer from claustrophobia.
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Important to know
-Please bring findings and pictures from preliminary examinations with you.
-Please come to the examination sober.
-Drink plenty of water one hour before the examination.
-Pregnancy must be ruled out.
-If you are breastfeeding your child, please let us know when you make an appointment so that we can discuss the next steps with you.
-On the day of the examination, contact with pregnant women or young children should be avoided.