Weill Cornell scientists aim to improve early detection of Alzheimer’s by increasing accessibility to advanced PET brain imaging technology.
Researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine have received a five-year, $6.2 million grant from the National Institute on Aging to develop an advanced, portable brain scanner designed to enable Alzheimer’s disease detection at an earlier stage. The initiative aims to build a scanner that can travel to medical centers lacking cutting-edge brain imaging technology, increasing accessibility to advanced diagnostic tools for diverse patient populations. [1]
Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans have been a critical method for producing three-dimensional images of the brain and measuring the concentration of specific molecules. This technology allows researchers to identify biomarkers, such as beta-amyloid plaques and tau proteins, which are key indicators of Alzheimer’s disease.
The scanning process involves injecting a radioactive tracer into the bloodstream, which then concentrates in target tissues and emits detectable signals that form images. However, traditional PET scanners are not portable and face limitations, including poor spatial resolution that compromises image quality and prevents reliable, quantitative analysis of essential biomarkers.
The Weill Cornell team hopes to address these limitations through the development of a portable “upright” PET scanner named Prism-PET. The researchers’ proof-of-concept work demonstrated that the technology could achieve the world’s highest resolution scan, capable of detecting areas of tracer uptake as small as one millimeter – significantly outperforming current commercial scanners.
The development of the new scanner stems from a collaboration between Dr Amir H. Goldan, an associate professor of electrical engineering in radiology at Weill Cornell Medicine, and Dr Gloria Chiang, director of the Brain Health Imaging Institute. Their work focuses on using Prism-PET to image tau tangles in the transentorhinal cortex, a region crucial for memory, navigation, and time perception, and one of the first areas affected by Alzheimer’s, even before cognitive symptoms arise.
“The transentorhinal cortex is only a few millimeters in size and can be incredibly difficult to accurately image with conventional PET scanners, even with highly specific tau PET tracers,” said Chiang.
The team is also working to enhance imaging techniques, particularly improving motion compensation methods to minimize image blurring from patient movement.
The compact design of the new PET scanner reduces the need for dedicated imaging spaces in healthcare facilities, making it feasible for community hospitals. Furthermore, the potential for mobility means the scanner could be incorporated into vehicles, offering imaging services to underserved areas.
“We can move it to medical centers that might not have advanced brain imaging, enabling us to provide the highest-level care to more diverse populations,” said Goldan.
The researchers also hope to address the growing need for early Alzheimer’s diagnosis, as early detection enhances the effectiveness of available therapies. The FDA’s recent approval of lecanemab, for example, has increased the demand for accurate brain imaging. The treatment targets amyloid plaques to slow Alzheimer’s progression, but requires confirmation of amyloid presence, which can be confirmed via a PET scan.
“Our overall goal is two-fold – having the highest performance brain PET scanner available, while also addressing its accessibility and portability to serve the community,” added Goldan. “The earlier you can diagnose Alzheimer’s disease, the better the chances of therapy being effective.”
[1] Grant to Develop Portable PET Scanner for Alzheimer’s Disease
