High-resolution PET scanner may aid Parkinson’s research, diagnosis
NeuroEXPLORER can image small brain regions involved in the disease
Written by |
- NeuroEXPLORER PET can image small, deep brain regions involved in Parkinson’s and other conditions.
- The scanner may help detect early brain changes linked to neurodegenerative diseases and support more precise diagnosis.
- It may aid DBS planning and help researchers monitor how treatments affect targets in the brain.
UZ Leuven and KU Leuven, two institutions in Belgium, have introduced NeuroEXPLORER PET into clinical practice. The ultra-high-resolution PET scanner, developed by United Imaging Healthcare, is designed to visualize small, deep brain regions, including those involved in Parkinson’s disease.
Within the first six months, the system supported imaging in more than 400 patients. UZ Leuven also is using the scanner in an ongoing comparative clinical trial to assess its added value over existing PET scanners. Over the next five years, the scanner will support more than 30 large-scale research programs across neurodegeneration, neuromodulation, and inflammation, among others.
Scanner enters clinical use in Belgium
“This technology fundamentally changes how we can investigate the origins and diagnoses of neurological and psychiatric diseases, as well as vascular diseases and head- and neck disorders such as tumours,” Koen Van Laere, MD, PhD, professor at KU Leuven and principal investigator, said in a company press release from United Imaging Healthcare. “It allows us to measure disease processes in very small structures with unprecedented precision.”
Mathieu Vandenbulcke, MD, PhD, chair of the Leuven Brain Institute, added, “The NeuroEXPLORER strengthens Leuven’s international position in brain research and precision medicine. It creates a unique platform for global scientific collaboration.”
Parkinson’s disease is caused by the progressive dysfunction and loss of dopaminergic neurons, the nerve cells that produce dopamine, a signaling molecule that allows nerve cells to communicate. These neurons are primarily found in the substantia nigra, a region deep in the brain involved in movement control.
Diagnosing the disease may involve the use of markers of dopamine signaling in high-resolution PET scans to assess dopaminergic function, which may help distinguish Parkinson’s patients from those with other conditions causing similar symptoms.
The NeuroEXPLORER PET scanner uses low-level radioactive tracers to visualize subtle biological and chemical changes in the brain, including deep brain regions, with resolution up to 20 times higher than conventional PET scanners.
Tool images small, deep brain regions
According to the company, the system may help identify early changes in neurodegenerative conditions, including Parkinson’s, by imaging biological processes such as protein buildup and dopamine-related signaling. This allows for very precise localization and quantification of brain changes that may help support an earlier, more precise diagnosis.
“The difference in resolution between the NeuroExplorer and a conventional PET scanner is like a short-sighted person putting on glasses for the first time. As a result, we can now detect brain abnormalities in very small brain nuclei and in the brainstem: until now, this has not been possible with any other imaging technique,” Van Laere said.
“For Parkinson’s disease and dementia … we can investigate and monitor early processes in the relevant brain nuclei and the connections between them in much greater detail,” Van Laere added.
In a previous study, brain images obtained with NeuroEXPLORER showed improved contrast, resolution, and quality compared with HRRT, an earlier state-of-the-art PET imaging tool. The system was also able to detect dopaminergic signals in the substantia nigra and striatum, another brain region involved in Parkinson’s.
The system may also help with neurosurgical procedures, including deep brain stimulation (DBS). This is a surgical treatment that involves implanting electrodes into specific areas of the brain to deliver electrical stimulation that can modulate neural activity and help ease Parkinson’s symptoms. NeuroEXPLORER may help doctors more precisely target intended brain regions.
Thomas Decramer, MD, PhD, neurosurgeon at UZ Leuven, noted that ultra-high-resolution imaging “improves the placement of electrodes for neurostimulation. This has direct implications for successful surgical outcomes.”
The device also enables noninvasive monitoring of how treatments reach and affect their targets in the brain, which may help accelerate the development of new therapies.
In addition to Parkinson’s, the device has the potential to be used in other neurodegenerative diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Alzheimer’s disease, drug-resistant epilepsy, and the detection and staging of certain brain, head, and neck tumors.
Leave a comment
Fill in the required fields to post. Your email address will not be published.