PET Scans Show Progression of Cognitive Decline (IMAGE)

University of California - Berkeley

PET Scans Show Progression of Cognitive Decline

Caption

PET scans can detect the decline in glucose metabolism associated with decreased cognitive function, particularly in the temporal and parietal lobes located on the sides and the back of the brain, the regions associated with memory formation and language. UC Berkeley researchers are finding that brain imaging shows promise as a method of detecting early signs of Alzheimer's disease. On the left is a PET scan showing normal levels of glucose metabolism, indicated in yellow and red. The levels of glucose metabolism in the brain are decreased in patients with mild cognitive impairment (middle) and with Alzheimer's disease (right).

Credit

Cindee Madison and Susan Landau, UC Berkeley

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To be used only in conjunction with stories about UC Berkeley research in Alzheimer's disease, and with credit included.

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