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The Vrije Universiteit Brussel, the Université Libre de Bruxelles, the University Hospital Brussels and the Brussels start-up Digita.AI want to detect Alzheimer’s disease at a very early stage from now on. To do this, they use a new magnetic scanner that provides a more detailed picture of the brain, which means that the deterioration process can be slowed down more quickly.
jvhBron: BELGIAN
Alzheimer’s disease is still an incurable disease, affecting one in nine people over the age of 56. The disease is traditionally diagnosed after memory tests and a brain scan. The classic scanners use cooled sensors, but they cannot simply be applied to the scalp, so that the resolution of the images is relatively small. Consequently, the diagnosis is usually made when the disease is already in an advanced stage.
The new electromagnetic scanner OPM (Optically Pumped Magnetometers) can be placed much closer to the scalp. The stronger signal provides a sharper image and can therefore determine better and earlier that parts of the brain are failing or becoming less efficient.
“We think that if we can make the diagnosis much earlier, we will have a much better chance of controlling the deterioration process with the existing medication,” says Jeroen Van Schependom (VUB).
Afterwards, the follow-up of the disease process is very important. Together with Digita.AI, data pods are maintained that serve as the patient’s personal digital safe. It is the patient himself, or the family, who manage the medical data in the vault. The researchers will receive 1.2 million euros in support from Innoviris for the entire project.