Technology has applications in the diagnosis of dementia as well as tumor measurement.

Abiant obtained an exclusive license to imaging technology developed at New York University School of Medicine. The tool reportedly detects changes in particular brain regions, which are predictive of Alzheimer’s disease onset. The collaborators say that it is also applicable in oncology and other disease areas.


The technology automatically picks up changes in glucose metabolism in the hippocampus, according to Abiant. Glucose metabolism is an early indicator of dementia, the company explains, allowing prediction up to eight years prior to the onset of symptoms, and is important in distinguishing between different types of dementias. Other automated techniques have reportedly failed to measure changes in this region because of the variability that occurs with age and disease.


The technology also allows accurate measurement of changes in structure, notes Abiant. This can be applied to neurodegenerative disorders as well as other applications such as tumor measurement. Other aspects relate to correction of cerebrospinal fluid marker measurements and processing of image data.


“We believe that these methods can significantly contribute to the diagnosis of dementia patients, allowing optimal treatment and monitoring,” comments Mony de Leon, Ph.D., director of NYU School of Medicine’s center for brain health. “Our relationship with Abiant provides the opportunity to commercialize these methods so that they may reach the broad patient population.”

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