Non-Invasive Diagnosis Of Traumatic Dementia At An Early Stage

Non-Invasive Diagnosis Of Traumatic Dementia At An Early Stage.
A "virtual biopsy" may servant distinguish a degenerative brain disorder that can occur in specialist athletes and others who suffer repeated blows to the head, says a new study. Symptoms of confirmed traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) can include memory problems, impulsive and erratic behavior, recession and, eventually, dementia. The condition, which is marked by an accumulation of abnormal proteins in the brain, can only be diagnosed by an autopsy.

But a specialized imaging aptitude called magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) may put up for sale a noninvasive way to diagnose CTE at an early stage so that treatment can begin before further mastermind damage occurs, say US researchers. MRS - sometimes referred to as "virtual biopsy" - uses strong magnetic field and radio waves to gather gen about chemical compounds in the body. The researchers used MRS to examine five retired whiz male football players, wrestlers and boxers, ages 32 to 55, with suspected CTE and compared them to a hold back group of five age-matched men.

Compared to the control group, the brains of the one-time athletes had increased levels of choline, a cell membrane nutrient that signals the attendance of damaged tissue, and of glutamate/glutamine (Glx). The former athletes also had altered levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), aspartate, and glutamate.

An estimated 3,8 million concussions coupled to sports and pastime occur in the United States each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The lucubrate was to be presented Dec 1, 2010 at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America in Chicago.

So "By plateful us identify the neurochemicals that may play a role in CTE, this exploration has contributed to our understanding of the pathophysiology of the disorder," Alexander P Lin, a principal investigator at the Center for Clinical Spectroscopy at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, said in a companionship news release. "Being able to interpret CTE could help athletes of all ages and levels, as well as war veterans who put up with mild brain injuries, many of which go undetected" startvigrxplus top. Because the study is being presented at a medical meeting, its statistics and conclusions should be viewed as preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.