"Clinical study protocols may involve more than one PET [amyloid-beta] scan per patient,” the CMS announcement said.

Encouragingly, the MRI scans did not require the latest equipment advances and were conducted on a standard machine that is readily available at most hospitals—a 1.5 Tesla. 

The funds will be allocated specifically toward neuroimaging and cognitive and immunological tests to explore if and how mild and asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infections have a long-lasting impact on neurocognitive function. 

Can a person’s political affiliation be identified based on imaging of their brain, without them ever saying a word or starting a debate on social media? The answer might surprise many. 

7T MRI brain scans can analyze the locus coeruleus—an area difficult to visualize on standard scanners—of patients with Parkinson’s and progressive supranuclear palsy to identify those most likely to respond to certain treatment strategies.

Though it remains unclear whether these patterns are a result of pain and trauma or if they indicate that a person is more susceptible to symptoms, authors noted that these objective measures could help personalize treatment plans.

The authors explained that the increased connectivity observed in those with insomnia could lead to hypersensitivity to external stimulation, which might result in a state of hyperarousal. 

Safety information for patients taking Aduhelm has been updated by the FDA to include the addition of two MRI scans during the first year of treatment.