Manipal Hospital's Nuclear Medicine will now offer faster diagnosis in Alzheimer's Disease (AD), with a novel molecule FDG, a glucose analog labeled with F18 (Fluorine) injection with the Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and Computed Tomography(CT) imaging. This is a first-of-its-kind initiative by a hospital in the country.

AD is a neurodegenerative disease commonly found in people over the age of 65. But now there are several clinical indications like memory loss and Dementia which are showing up in adult population of 40 years although peak incidence is 60 years. The hospital recently installed the GE Healthcare's Discovery PET/CT platform at an investment of Rs eight crore.

The state -of-the-art equipment is a powerful imaging technique known to have the maximum use of 80 per cent for cancer diagnosis, 10 per cent for cardiac disorders and another 10 per cent for neurology conditions.

Capitalizing the features of discovery PET/ CT, Manipal Hospital's department of Nuclear Medicine is making efforts to increase the critical diagnosis of Alzheimer's through new molecule FDG labeled with F-18 which provides clear images of the glucose analog by the brain thereby helping radiologists and nuclear medicine experts to differentiate the cause of memory loss. FDG labeled with F18 is the molecule of the century, Dr RV Parameswaran, consultant and head, department of Nuclear Medicine and PET/CT division told Pharmabiz during an interaction. This is an efficient diagnostic modality which allows faster treatment in AD, he added.

The early incidence of such brain disorders which seriously affects a person's ability to carry out daily activities has led the hospital's Nuclear Medicine department to increase the diagnosis. "We need to ensure the cases are detected quickly. In Alzheimer's, the sensory motor cortex of the brain is preserved. We are now working to classify brain patterns to characterize the early and advanced cases", stated Dr Parameswaran.

Factors like age, genetic background and lifestyle trigger onset of the Alzheimer's. US reports maximum cases and in India there are around two million individuals with AD. The number is expected to increase because of a rise in elderly population in India due to higher life expectancy.

On the World Alzheimer's Day on September 22, it is important to create an awareness through dedicated health camps and continued medical education programmes about the brain disease which if detected early could allow patients to benefit from the treatment, informed Dr Parameswaran.

Manipal Hospital is also part of a global clinical trial for an Alzheimer's drug which is expected to commence in December this year. The Department of Nuclear Medicine is expected to play a pivotal role in the trial with its Discovery PET/CT imaging expertise.