Alzheimer's patients may now breathe a sigh of relief as significant progress has been achieved in the diagnosis of the brain ailment with just one brain scan.
Eric Aboagye, a professor of cancer pharmacology and molecular imaging at the Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College, London, has led a group of British researchers to understand how a single brain MRI scan might be used to detect Alzheimer's disease.
Diagnoses were formerly made by a series of tests, which may take months or years to complete.
Prof. Aboagye, a Ghanaian, stated in an exclusive interview with the Daily Graphic that the study employed machine learning technology to look at structural elements within the brain, including the regions not previously connected with Alzheimer's disease.
The new study's simplicity and ability to detect the disease at an early stage, when it could be challenging to diagnose, according to scientists, were its main advantages.
the condition
The degenerative neurologic illness Alzheimer's disease results in the death of brain cells and brain tissue shrinkage.
It is the most typical cause of dementia, characterised by a steady deterioration in thinking, acting, and social abilities that impairs a person's capacity for independent functioning.
Alzheimer's disease frequently manifests as memory loss, difficulty thinking and solving problems, and difficulty speaking.
The most prevalent type of dementia, Alzheimer's, is often observed in those over 65, however it can sometimes strike those who are younger.
No remedy
There is presently no treatment for the illness, according to Prof. Aboagye, who was awarded the renowned McKenzie Davidson Medal by The British Institute of Radiology in 2009.
Better diagnosis "could be a beginning point for developing a treatment," he continued.
Detecting the disease early, according to him, gave individuals the time to get assistance, arrange for therapy to control their symptoms, and make future plans.
He added that another important aspect of the discovery was that it would aid in the search for a treatment for the illness because early diagnosis would facilitate scientific investigation into a patient's condition because in 79% of cases, research was able to distinguish between early and late-stage Alzheimer's.
"At this time, no other straightforward and commonly used approach can accurately forecast Alzheimer's disease, thus our discovery represents a significant advancement.
Even in this group of patients, he said, "our algorithm could separate out those individuals who had Alzheimer's from those who did not." Many patients who appear with Alzheimer's at memory clinics also have other neurological disorders, he noted.
"For patients and their families, waiting for a diagnosis may be a terrible ordeal. It would be really beneficial if we could shorten the time they have to wait, simplify the diagnosing process, and lessen some of the uncertainty.
The researcher said, "Our new technique might also identify early-stage patients for clinical trials of novel pharmacological therapies or lifestyle modifications, which is now very difficult to accomplish."
According to him, a precise and prompt diagnosis helped scientists learn about significant brain alterations that caused the disease and contributed in the creation of novel medicines and clinical trials.
He said that, similar to other illnesses, Alzheimer's was not a condition exclusive to the West but rather appeared in Africa and other regions of the world.
According to him, the illness can strike anyone under the age of 60 and manifest as modest cognitive impairment before becoming more severe beyond age 65.
Despite the fact that Alzheimer's is an ageing illness, Prof. Aboagye said that certain people may be genetically predisposed to the condition and urged further study in this area.
He said that all that was required for the research to help Africa and the rest of the globe was a straightforward MRI scanner.
Regarding the benefits of research to healthcare, he said that it sped up diagnosis when applied to the healthcare system since it produced clear, understandable, and accurate findings.