Globally, dementia is a major cause of death and disability. The early,
precise, and differential diagnosis of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease depends on
neuroimaging or brain imaging. Because of structural and molecular imaging, which is
also increasingly being employed in clinical practice for early and accurate diagnosis,
the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative dementias has been better understood. Several
neuroimaging techniques that are regarded as state-of-the-art diagnostic aids were
highlighted. Most of the research that uses imaging modalities for early diagnosis is
preventive studies. The accurate identification of AD biomarkers is made possible by
AI-enhanced neuroimaging methods such as MRI, PET, and CT scans. With
technologies that improve the precision of neuropsychological testing and examine
speech and language patterns for early indicators of dementia, artificial intelligence has
also enhanced cognitive and behavioural examinations. The MRI modalities discussed
encompass structural MRI, functional MRI, diffusion tensor imaging, magnetic
resonance spectroscopy, and arterial spin labelling. These advanced techniques enable
the identification of presymptomatic diagnostic biomarkers in the brains of cognitively
normal older adults and can also be utilized to track Alzheimer's disease progression
following the emergence of clinical symptoms. Advanced MRI techniques, such as
arterial spin labelling and Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI), are also being explored to
better understand Alzheimer's disease. In PET imaging, ongoing efforts focus on
developing high selectivity and affinity ligands. As no single imaging method is
adequate for early diagnosis, this has led to the emergence of a new approach known as
“multi-modal imaging.”
Keywords: AI-enhanced diagnosis, Diffusion tensor imaging, Magnetic resonance imaging, MRI modalities, Neuroimaging.
