Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital has paved a new way for precision diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, enabling patients with metal implants—who were previously unable to undergo Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)—to receive accurate assessments using Positron Emission Tomography (PET) alone.

The hospital announced on June 22 that it has integrated its neurology and nuclear medicine departments with 'NCM-Brain,' an AI-based brain image analysis software, to perform quantitative analysis of amyloid PET. Since its clinical introduction, the system has successfully processed diagnostic scans for 13 patients, marking its firm establishment in the clinical setting.

A key achievement of this new quantitative analysis method is the ability to secure objective data essential for prescribing 'Leqembi,' a cutting-edge Alzheimer's targeted therapy. Leqembi slows the decline of cognitive function by directly removing amyloid proteins—the primary cause of mild cognitive impairment and dementia—from the brain. Therefore, accurately quantifying amyloid accumulation prior to treatment is a critical prerequisite.

By combining AI-generated quantitative reports with clinical results from cognitive impairment tests, medical staff can now reach more definitive diagnoses and develop highly precise, personalized treatment plans.

This AI-driven PET imaging approach also significantly improves accessibility for patients. Traditionally, confirming amyloid accumulation required invasive procedures like cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis, which involves inserting a long needle between spinal vertebrae, causing considerable patient discomfort. Alternatively, MRI scans, while non-invasive, come with high costs and strict limitations; they are unsuitable for patients with cochlear implants, aneurysm clips, pacemakers, artificial joints, or those suffering from claustrophobia.

Professor Jung Young-hee of the Department of Neurology at Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital stated, "We will utilize this objective evaluation as a core indicator to determine the likelihood of Alzheimer’s disease progression in patients with mild cognitive impairment." Professor Hwang Hee-sung of the Department of Nuclear Medicine added, "By supplementing image interpretation with quantitative data, we can significantly enhance the accuracy of our diagnoses."

According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the number of dementia patients in South Korea reached 970,000 last year. This figure is projected to climb to 1.42 million by 2030 and 3.15 million by 2050. Data indicates that one in ten seniors over 65 currently suffers from dementia, while nearly three in ten are in a pre-dementia state known as mild cognitive impairment, with 10–15% of these cases progressing to dementia annually. Globally, the number of dementia patients stands at approximately 57 million.

This innovation represents a significant leap forward in neurological care, offering patients a more comfortable, accurate, and accessible path to managing and treating Alzheimer's disease.

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