DIAGNOSIS OF SDAT BY HMPAO SPECT AND VITA MIN-B-12 SERUM CONCENTRATION

It is quite difficult to confirm the diagnosis of demential disorders, including senile dementia of the Alzheimer type (SDAT) by clinical me ans only. Through the combination of Tc-99m-HMPAO brain SPECT and seru m vitamin B-12 determination it was hoped to speed up and improve the diagnosis of SDAT. 116 patients who had been divided into four groups according to their defect pattern in the Tc-99m-HMPAO brain SPECT 17 v ery probably had SDAT; of these 15 showed a defect-pattern with brain SPECT which could be associated to SDAT. The majority of SDAT patients had serum vitamin B-12 levels in the lower normal range or pathologic ally below that range. Both investigations contributed to establishing the SDAT diagnosis without replacing other investigations. The determ ination of serum vitamin B-12 does not require any major additional ef fort.