All articles tagged with #pet imaging
A study using PET scans found that co-using cannabis and tobacco alters brain chemistry by increasing FAAH enzyme levels, which reduces the activity of the 'bliss molecule' anandamide, potentially explaining higher depression, anxiety, and addiction challenges in users of both substances. This research could guide new treatments for cannabis use disorder, especially among tobacco co-users.
Researchers led by Prof. Takuya Takahashi have discovered that increased AMPA receptor density in the brain correlates with cognitive impairment in Long COVID patients, providing a potential biomarker and target for treatment of brain fog associated with the condition.
A study involving 675 participants found that self-reported cognitive decline and reports from partners are linked to the accumulation of tau tangles, a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease, emphasizing the importance of early detection and addressing memory concerns.
A case-control study conducted in Canada found that translocator protein total distribution volume (TSPO VT), a marker of gliosis, was elevated in the brains of individuals with persistent depressive and cognitive symptoms after mild to moderate COVID-19 infection. The study suggests that gliosis, especially in the ventral striatum and dorsal putamen, may explain some persistent depressive and cognitive symptoms, including slowed motor speed, low motivation or energy, and anhedonia, after initially mild to moderate COVID-19 illness. PET imaging of the translocator protein (TSPO) can detect gliosis composed of activated microglia or astroglia.
South Korean researchers have discovered that reactive astrocytes, rather than amyloid-beta plaques, may be the main cause of Alzheimer’s disease. The team developed a new imaging technique using PET scans with radioactive acetate and glucose probes to visualize the interaction between astrocytes and neurons in Alzheimer’s patients. This breakthrough could lead to a new method for early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease and identify MCT1, an astrocyte-specific acetate transport, as a potential therapeutic target.