Alzheimer’s dementia, Parkinson’s disease, stroke and other neurological disorders such as psychiatric, epilepsy, ataxia, multiple sclerosis, are included among the main public health problems, leading causes of disability and premature death¹. The prevalence of these pathologies and mental health challenges[1] are increasing with age, so their burden will rise even more due to global population’s ageing^1,2. Thus, there is a very significant and expanding need for their early and accurate diagnosis, especially now that specific treatments are available for some of them^3,4. Personalized treatment guidance and assessment of its results are becoming decisive.

Neuroimaging seeks to directly or indirectly assess the structure and functions of the brain, as well as neurotransmitter and pharmaco-dynamics. Brain imaging technologies fall into two broad categories, structural (specially CT and MR) and functional (including Positron Emission Tomography PET). PET generates images and quantifies brain processes by measuring the levels of glucose and other molecules of interest illustrating where neural firing is taking place and thus, if there is any abnormal activity⁵. Compared to the other preeminent method of functional neuroimaging, fMRI, PET offers advantages such as being quantifiable, less affected by movement, and suitable for longitudinal studies. Whole-body PET scans have limited resolution and sensitivity for precision brain region / nuclei assessment. They are also a major investment and are often saturated by the demand of other specialties -specially Oncology- making their (neurological) availability limited⁶.

[1] Including impact of COVID19