Throughout this semester I found the second lesson to be one of the most difficult ones to understand: Cognitive Neuroscience. The most challenging part of this lesson was for me measuring the Brain. I found it difficult to identify how and when the different technologies are necessary and what their use is.
Scientists in the San Diego School of Medicine from the University of California, have discovered that a Volumetric MRI can measure the ‘memory centers’ and compare them to the ideal size in order to predict the progression from Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) to Alzheimer’s disease (Pain & Central Nervous System Week, 2009).
“Use of this procedure is like bringing the experience of an expert neuro-radiologist to any clinic that has the right software,” said James Brewer, MD, PhD, assistant professor in UC San Diego’s Departments of Radiology and Neurosciences.
MCI is considered to be a transitional stage between the forgetfulness that comes with aging and Alzheimer’s disease. Even though most of the patients suffering from MCI don’t always transfer towards Alzheimer, its important to find the difference between them so that they can receive the adequate treatment.
According to Michael Rafii, it is to early to determine a conclusive difference, but as for now, the shrinking of the Hippocampus, seems to be an important piece of evidence. Moreover, the atrophy of the Medial Temporal Lobe has also been associated with an increased risk of conversion from MCI to Alzheimer’s disease. On a study with 269 patients that measured their brain, researchers discovered that there was a faster clinical decline on individuals with smaller volumes on the hippocampus and amygdala. “These values objectively measure the hippocampus and amydala, and early data confirm previous findings that these brain areas may atrophy early in Alzheimer’s disease and can offer a clinical marker for change,” said Rafii (Pain & Central Nervous System Week, 2009).
References:
Pain & Central Nervous System Week. (2009). UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA – SAN DIEGO;
Measuring brain atrophy in patients with mild cognitive impairment. P. 35. Retrieved from
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