SCIENTISTS at the University of Queensland have found that magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) could be used to predict the risk of onset of Alzheimer's disease.
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The discovery could greatly improve outcomes for Alzheimer's patients, as early diagnosis could increase the effectiveness of drug treatments.
Led by Associate Professor Elizabeth Coulson of the Queensland Brain Institute, the study found that people with a shrinking basal forebrain were seven times more likely to have worsened cognitive function within 18 months.
"Existing Alzheimer's disease drugs try to enhance the function of the degenerating basal forebrain, but often too much damage is already done by the time drugs are administered," Associate Professor Coulson said.
"If we can give the existing drugs to people earlier, when they first display evidence of a decline in their basal forebrain, even perhaps before they are diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, then hopefully those drugs will be more effective."
Lead author Georg Kerbler said the study used data from the CSIRO's Australian Imaging, Biomarkers and Lifestyle Flagship Study of Ageing.
They analysed data involving 223 elderly people – 145 healthy people, 40 showing mild cognitive impairment and 38 with Alzheimer's disease.
"We're now working on validating these findings so a method to assess basal forebrain dysfunction can be rolled out into hospitals in the future," Mr Kerbler said.
"Our MRI method is currently a specialised research tool, and routine diagnosis needs to be performed in hospital MRI departments."
The study was published in the journal Neuroimage: Clinical.
