Schizophrenia Daily News Blog

Combined Imaging Technique Hoped to Further Understanding of Schizophrenia

Image scanning technologies such as positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance (MR) have long been used to study progression of diseases affecting the brain, but they had never before been combined.

The Washington Post reported on the use of combined PET images and MR images of the human brain. According to Dr. Bernd J. Pichler, head of the Laboratory for Preclinical Imaging and Imaging Technology at the University of Tuebingen's Department of Radiology, in Germany, this technique of taking both images simultaneously represents a leap forward in imaging capabilities.

The researchers involved believe that this type of brain imaging could potentially be the best choice for neurological studies.

They believe that PET/MR brain scanning will aid in understanding the pathologies and progression of neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, depression and schizophrenia.

Read the article: New Imaging Techniques Hold Promise for Variety of Diseases
Original Source: June 4, 2007, presentations, Society for Nuclear Medicine annual meeting, Washington, D.C.

Related Reading:
The Use of Neuroimaging in the Study of Schizophrenia
The Case for Early Treatment of Schizophrenia
Understanding Where the Brain Goes Wrong in Schizophrenia