Scans to spot Alzheimer's likely to be available from this year

Scans to spot Alzheimer's likely to be available from this year

NEW YORK: Brain scans that detect early warning signs of Alzheimer's may be available in the United States as soon as this year, researchers reported this week.

However, it may be too early for the scans to be of much help for those with the disease.

According to the Alzheimer's Association, the disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, and the number of deaths has risen in recent years.

Researchers just released studies that reveal the effectiveness of PET scans that search for signs of a protein in the brain called beta-amyloid. It essentially gunks up the brain and causes senility.

In one of three new studies, researchers from University of Texas found that levels of the protein, as detected through a PET scanner, were higher in those whose brains took longer to process things. In older people, they linked higher levels to memory problems.

Physicians who find signs of senility in people who undergo brain scans have limited options to help them. There's no cure for the illness, and drug treatments have not proven to be very effective.