Home / Health / Brain Drains Clogged? New MRI Scan Key to Early Alzheimer's Detection
Brain Drains Clogged? New MRI Scan Key to Early Alzheimer's Detection
10 Dec
Summary
- MRI scans can reveal clogged brain drainage spaces linked to Alzheimer's.
- Expanded perivascular spaces may predict dementia before major damage occurs.
- This method could offer earlier Alzheimer's detection without extra tests.
Researchers have identified potential early warning signs for Alzheimer's disease by examining MRI scans for blockages in the brain's natural drainage system. These natural "drains," which clear harmful waste, can become clogged, leading to enlarged perivascular spaces detectable on routine MRI scans. This finding suggests that anomalies in these spaces could serve as crucial predictors of dementia, even before substantial brain damage occurs.
The study, involving nearly 1,000 participants in Singapore, observed that individuals with mild cognitive impairment were more likely to exhibit these clogged drains compared to those without cognitive concerns. The presence of enlarged perivascular spaces was also found to correlate with certain blood markers associated with Alzheimer's, such as amyloid plaques and tau tangles.
This breakthrough offers a promising non-invasive method for earlier Alzheimer's detection, potentially complementing existing diagnostic tools and reducing the need for additional costly tests. Scientists plan further studies to confirm the predictive power of these MRI findings for tracking disease progression and identifying individuals at higher risk.
