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Can Alzheimer's Disease Be Diagnosed By A Brain Scan?
Question: Will a brain scan or urine samples prove Alzheimer's?
Brief Answer:
Alzheimer's can not be proved by either.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for posting your query.
Alzheimer' disease (AD) can not be proven by a scan of urine tests.
A diagnosis of AD can be suspected based on symptoms, and neuro-psychological assessment.
The diagnosis can be further strengthened by doing MRI brain, which may show brain atrophy (shrinkage), mostly in temporal and frontal lobes.
A more specific scan would be PET scan, which would show hypo metabolism (reduced functional ability).
The only method of confirming AD would be by doing a brain biopsy.
Best wishes,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM (Neurology) XXXXXXX Consultant Neurologist
Alzheimer's can not be proved by either.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for posting your query.
Alzheimer' disease (AD) can not be proven by a scan of urine tests.
A diagnosis of AD can be suspected based on symptoms, and neuro-psychological assessment.
The diagnosis can be further strengthened by doing MRI brain, which may show brain atrophy (shrinkage), mostly in temporal and frontal lobes.
A more specific scan would be PET scan, which would show hypo metabolism (reduced functional ability).
The only method of confirming AD would be by doing a brain biopsy.
Best wishes,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM (Neurology) XXXXXXX Consultant Neurologist
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
This same lady friend was taken to a Doctor for tests, for Alzheimer's, they did it orally. She was taken by her kids, they got there at 12;30 am, she didn't sleep the night before, she took a sleeping pill when they got there, again almost no sleep. She had to be up at 5am for the test. She was totally tired, couldn't function properly. Naturally she didn't pass. The kids did it on purpose, in my opinion so they could take over her money, etc. We got a lawyer and another test, she passed it, no problem. Now the kids want to do a brain scan, the blood, urine, etc to still prove she has Altzheimer's. They did one scan that showed some brain atrophy mostly in the front temple. I know her very well, and see abosulately no sign of a problem. Can they use the brain scan or these other test to win over her?
Vince
Vince
Brief Answer:
No.
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for getting back with more information.
As I said, the most important aspect in the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a clinical diagnosis of dementia. This can be done after a detailed clinical examination by a neurologist or a neuropsychologist.
Mild atrophy in frontal lobe is common in older people and it is non specific. This finding can not mean that someone has AD.
Also, there is no blood or urine test to prove that someone has AD.
Best wishes,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM
No.
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for getting back with more information.
As I said, the most important aspect in the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a clinical diagnosis of dementia. This can be done after a detailed clinical examination by a neurologist or a neuropsychologist.
Mild atrophy in frontal lobe is common in older people and it is non specific. This finding can not mean that someone has AD.
Also, there is no blood or urine test to prove that someone has AD.
Best wishes,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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