Advances in Diagnostics for Neurodegenerative Disorders

Abstract

In this chapter, the established investigative techniques for aiding diagnosis in neurodegenerative disease are reviewed. Beginning with neuropsychological analysis, this review ranges though structural (anatomic), dynamic, and functional brain imaging using MRI and radio-nucleotide scanning to complex neurophysiological applications. In each section, the increasing likelihood of developing true noninvasive biomarkers is addressed. The future of multi-modality imaging and its contribution to, not only to diagnosis, but to classification, prognosis, and treatment outcome in neurodegeneration is considered.