Mallorca advances in the early detection of Alzheimer's with a new imaging test

PalmSon Espases University Hospital The Balearic Islands Health Service has incorporated early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease into the Balearic public health system using a brain amyloid PET/CT. This procedure allows for the detection of the accumulation of the amyloid ß protein in the brain, which is a key biomarker indicating the development of Alzheimer's disease with greater diagnostic certainty, the Health Service explained.

On the occasion of World Alzheimer's Day, the hospital announced the incorporation of this diagnostic imaging technique since last May, as it represents a significant advance in the diagnosis of this disease. Thanks to this non-invasive imaging technique, specialists in the Nuclear Medicine Department can confirm or rule out the diagnosis in very early stages, when symptoms are still mild, which facilitates earlier and more personalized intervention.

Brain PET/CT with amyloid not only improves diagnostic accuracy, but also opens the door to a new era in the approach to Alzheimer'sAs they explain, in the not-too-distant future, this type of diagnosis will be a requirement for accessing new targeted treatments, which specifically target amyloid protein deposits and are currently awaiting authorization and marketing in our country.

This test is also primarily indicated for patients with mild cognitive impairment or atypical symptoms of dementia, in whom there is some suspicion of Alzheimer's disease, but it has not been confirmed with other methods. It is also recommended when the clinical diagnosis is uncertain and greater precision is needed to differentiate Alzheimer's from other neurodegenerative pathologies, such as frontotemporal dementia or atypical Parkinson's disease. Furthermore, amyloid PET/CT is especially useful in patients under 65 years of age with early symptoms.

This neuroimaging test is requested by a cognitive neurology unit or clinic, which evaluates patients with cognitive impairment and determines the suitability of the study. The Nuclear Medicine Department subsequently performs the brain PET/CT and is responsible for analyzing and interpreting its results, which provide key information to confirm or rule out Alzheimer's disease.

With this addition, the Nuclear Medicine Service at Son Espases University Hospital, the only one in the Balearic Islands public healthcare system, now offers this diagnostic technology and aligns itself with the recommendations of the Spanish Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging and the Spanish Society of Neurology, while reinforcing its commitment to innovation in Alzheimer's.