Innovative tools allow you to visualize brain changes before the emergence of more severe symptoms, revolutionizing neurological care
A lives a moment of silent transformation. Thanks to nuclear medicine, it is already possible to see brain functioning increasingly detailed and early. Examinations like PET and SPECT use small doses of substances called radiotracers, which bind to specific molecules and reveal what is happening within brain cells.
Innovations in diagnostics: new techniques and indications
In 2025, the regulatory agency (FDA) authorized new uses for these tracers, expanding the investigation of the typical amiloid plates. It is now possible to measure the amount of these plates and follow the response to treatments. Added to Tauvid, which shows another dementia protein – the tau – doctors gain valuable tools to investigate memory problems from the early stages.
Epilepsy: precision beyond resonance
Magnetic resonance imaging reveals the origin of epilepsy seizures. In such cases, PET and SPECT become fundamental. They help locate exactly where electric discharges begin in the brain, crucial information to indicate surgery. Modern techniques, which compare images made during and out of seizures, increase accuracy. PET with marked glucose (18F-FDG), performed between crises, and the cerebral perfusion sparet during the crisis, remain essential allies in therapeutic planning, increasing the success of surgeries.
Alzheimer and Dementia: From Markers to Personalized Care
Today it is already possible to detect Alzheimer’s linked proteins even before the aggravation of symptoms. Specific amyloid protein tracers – such as Amyvid, Neuraceq and Vizamyl -, in addition to the Tau (Tauvid), help doctors confirm diagnoses, choose the right time to intervene and even follow the response to new medications. International protocols already guide when asking for these tests, avoiding unnecessary requests and ensuring greater care accuracy.
New borders in synapses, inflammation and parkinson
Research does not stop. There are already study exams capable of directly assessing the health of connections between neurons-synapses-with tracers like UCB-J and Synvest-1. This innovation can be decisive in diseases like the.
Other tests investigate brain inflammation, one of the factors that accelerate Alzheimer’s and other dementia. And new radiotracers, such as the ACI-12589, begin to map the alpha-synuclein protein involved in Parkinson and dementia with Lewy bodies, helping to differentiate these diseases in an unprecedented way.
What is already available in clinical practice
- DATSCAN: Differentiates Parkinson’s disease from other types of tremor and parkinsonism;
- PET with FDG: shows brain metabolism patterns linked to Parkinsonian dementia and syndromes;
- PET with amyloid tracer: identifies the presence of amyloid protein, typical of Alzheimer’s disease;
- MIBG Scintigraphy: Evaluates cardiac innervation, helping to diagnose Parkinson and dementia with Lewy bodies.
Advantages for doctors and patients
- More accurate orders: Updated protocols help indicate the exam only when really needed;
- Early diagnosis: Identify functional changes before advanced loss improves care;
- Clear follow -up: serial examinations allow to monitor the effectiveness of treatments;
- More successful epilepsy surgeries: greater chance of locating the focus of seizures.
Access, interpretation and security
Despite advances, it is essential that the results are always interpreted along with clinical history and other exams. Each tracer has its specific limitations and indications. The conscious use of these resources ensures more reliable diagnoses, improves the cost-benefit in health systems and expands the chances of offering the patient a personalized and effective treatment.
Paulo Gustavo Limeira Noble of Lacerda CRM/RJ: 52.91529-7
Doctor graduated from FAMED-UFAL
Nuclear doctor at HUCFF-UFRJ
Fellowship em PET/CT INCA-MS
Nuclear doctor at the Nuclear Medicine Clinic Villela Pedras Rio de Janeiro-RJ
