Magnetic resonance imaging scans (MRIs) may help scientists discover the brain changes in Alzheimer’s and discover how the disease progress. Researchers at the International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease in Chicago said that easily available MRI scans could help in an early diagnosis of the disease.

Till now an autopsy was the only way to confirm the disease, by identifying the brain lesions such as amyloid plaques that are characteristic of Alzheimer’s. Doctor’s though rely on a series of cognitive and behavioral tests, MRI scans and imaging studies called PET scans that require the injection of special chemicals that help light up the brain to identify Alzheimer’s.

An autopsy cannot be carried out on a living person and an MRI can help spot amyloid plaques in the brain of a living person, thereby making early diagnosis easier. This would also allow patients to try drug and other remedies at an earlier stage, in an effort to help slow the disease's progression. Alzheimer's is estimated to affect about 5.2 million Americans, and the number is expected to reach 16 million by 2050.                                                                 
John Ronald of Ontario's Robarts Research Institute said, in a statement, "Although some of the technology used to generate these images was designed specifically for rabbits, this preliminary discovery hints at the promise of using clinical MRI scanners to visualize plaques in people with Alzheimer's."

Dr. Jeffrey Kaye of the Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, who moderated the briefing, felt the transition from rabbits to humans may be a lot. He said researchers had tried using special high-field MRI magnets and could see amyloid plaques in mice, but so far have not been able to see them in human brains. "I have to believe it will be solved," Kaye added.

In another study researcher at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, using a computer program to analyze information on MRI scans could distinguish between normal and Alzheimer's brains with 90 percent accuracy. "This study shows that information extracted from MRI scans can accurately capture the severity of Alzheimer's tangle pathology,” said Prashanthi Vemuri, who presented the results.

Experts feel more studies are needed to understand the findings, and that the way to diagnose Alzheimer's at an early stage would be a great step forward. "These MRI studies show that researchers are moving closer to accurate early detection of the disease, and that we may soon be able to use this technology to determine who is at greater risk," William Thies of the Alzheimer's Association said in a statement.