Learning objectives
To review the findings upon several imaging techniques in the diagnosis of different types of dementia/neurodegenerative disorders we encountered in our daily practice.
To demonstrate the clinical impact of neuroimaging in such cases.
Background
Dementia syndrome is characterized by a cognitive impairment that includes loss of memory as well as problems with reasoning,
planning,
and judgment,
currently affecting about 50 million people worldwide and increasing due to population growth and demographic aging,
with nearly 10 million new cases every year.
Dementia results from a variety of diseases and injuries that primarily or secondarily affect the brain,
such as Alzheimer's disease or stroke.
The diagnosis of dementia requires a careful medical history and examination,
cognitive testing,
assessment of functional impairment...
Findings and procedure details
Alzheimer Disease (AD) Fig. 1
AD is the most common cause of dementia and is characterized by progressive cognitive decline,
memory impairment,
and an adverse impact on activities of daily living in middle-aged and elderly patients.
The radiological hallmark finding is cortical atrophy caused by neuronal degeneration and loss.
Atrophy is diffuse,
but more prominent in the temporal and parietal lobes,
with the hippocampus most severely and disproportionately affected.
The primary motor and sensory cortices are relatively spared until late in the disease.
Findings are...
Conclusion
Neurodegenerative diseases show typical features that allow doing an approach to an accurate diagnosis.
Characterization of neurodegenerative diseases using morphological and functional imaging is useful in patients with clinical manifestations as well as in early detection in preclinical states of selected patients.
References
1.
Alzheimer’s Disease International: World Alzheimer Report 2018.
The state of the art of dementia research: New Frontiers.
September 2018.
Recovered from https://www.alz.co.uk
2.
Dementia.
World Health Organization.
12 December 2017.
Recovered from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/dementia
3.
Winblad B,Amouyel P,Andrieu Set al.Defeating Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias: a priority for European science and society.Lancet Neurol2016;15(5):455–532.
4.
Brown et al.
Brain PET in Suspected Dementia: Patterns of Altered FDG Metabolism.
RadioGraphics 2014;34:684-701
5.
A.J.
Degnan and L.M.
Levy.
Neuroimaging of Rapidly Progressive Dementias,
Part 1: Neurodegenerative Etiologies.
Am...