Advancements in Predicting Parkinson's Disease and Lewy Body Dementia
PET scans of the heart may be able to detect Parkinson's disease and Lewy body dementia in individuals at risk for these diseases. Researchers at the National Institutes of Health conducted PET scans on 34 people with Parkinson's disease risk factors and found that the scans could distinguish those who would later be diagnosed with the diseases. The scans measured levels of the neurotransmitter norepinephrine, which is derived from dopamine and is deficient in the brains of people with Parkinson's disease. Detecting these diseases early on could allow for early interventions and testing of preventative approaches.