Progression of Alzheimer's tracked

The progression of Alzheimer's disease from beginning to end has been tracked using a unique brain scan.

Researchers from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden used a positron emission tomography (PET) brain scan to track the development of Alzheimer's disease in a 56-year-old patient.

The scan was used to document the build up of beta amyloid protein deposits in the brain and is hoped to improve understanding of the disease.

A radioactive tracer was used to produce images which they based on blood flow, glucose uptake and oxygen use and other bodily functions, according to the study published in journal Brain.

The Press Association reported lead researcher Professor Agneta Nordberg as saying: "This opens up new opportunities for early diagnosis and for understanding the causes of the disease and identifying patients who can be expected to respond well to future Alzheimer's therapy."

Meanwhile, a study published in the Archives of Neurology found that high levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or good cholesterol, is linked to a lower chance of developing Alzheimer's disease.

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