With the intensification of population aging, the incidence of neurological diseases has sharply increased. However, many neurological diseases suffer from hidden onset and delayed diagnosis.

 

Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD) may not have obvious symptoms in the early stages, but data shows that 40% of them AD At the first visit, the patient was already in the stage of moderate cognitive impairment, reaching dementia levels PD When the patient presented symptoms for treatment, the loss of dopamine neurons in the substantia nigra of the brain had reached 50%, missing the opportunity for early intervention.

 

It is particularly important to conduct early and regular brain health screening for middle-aged and elderly people aged 45 and above for timely diagnosis and intervention.

 

Brain health screening is a health examination used for early detection of neurological disorders, typically consisting of two stages: simple screening and etiological examination.

 

01 Simple screening

Neuropsychological testing

Concise Mental State Examination (MMSE)

Montreal Mental Function Test (MOCA)

Professional personnel use cognitive scales to evaluate patients' cognitive functions such as memory, attention, and executive function. The test results are quantified using a standardized scoring system to obtain scores for each test.

 

EEG examination

• Including recording the state of open and closed eyes

Electroencephalogram (EEG) is a non-invasive medical examination method used to record brain electrical activity and examine cortical function. integration EEG Medical professionals can evaluate the risk of cognitive decline in patients and provide personalized medical advice based on their early identification, long-term monitoring, and cognitive function evaluation abilities.
 

 

02 Etiological examination

Neuroimaging examination

• Brain and Brain MRI Or cranial brain CT

• When necessary PET Check (A β - PET, FDG-PET, and...) Tau‑PET Waiting for inspection)
 

Imaging techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), and positron emission tomography (PET) can non invasively obtain detailed images of brain structures, helping doctors accurately determine whether structural lesions have occurred in the brain.
 

 

AD patient MRI Examination shows diffuse brain atrophy

The atrophy of the medial temporal lobe and hippocampus is most pronounced (E, F)

 

Laboratory Examination

• Hematological tests (biological markers, blood routine, blood glucose, blood lipids, liver and kidney function, thyroid function, vitamins) B12、 Folic acid, homocysteine, etc

• Cerebrospinal fluid analysis

• Inflammation diagnosis and vascular related

• Genetic testing

• Mineral related

• Heavy metal toxin related

• Nutrients related (cortisol, estradiol, total testosterone, etc.)

• Herpesvirus related
 

Neurological diseases are often caused by multiple factors. Laboratory tests can analyze patients' biological samples (such as blood, cerebrospinal fluid, etc.) from multiple aspects to discover disease markers and help doctors comprehensively evaluate the causes of the disease from multiple perspectives, providing patients with more accurate diagnosis and personalized treatment plans.

 

Suggestions for brain health screening to be done in order

 

In medical practice, non-invasive and simple examinations are generally performed first, followed by more complex examinations according to individual needs. Therefore, etiological screening should be conducted after simple screening.

 

The first stage of simple screening aims to preliminarily evaluate the brain health status, using non-invasive, safe, and relatively low-cost examination methods.

 

If the preliminary screening results indicate a risk, it is necessary to conduct the next stage of etiological examination based on the personalized situation.
 

 

For example, high suspicion AD Individuals can proceed Aβ‑PET、FDG‑PET and Tau‑PET Waiting for inspection; Patients with a family history of inheritance are recommended to undergo genetic testing.

 

The items included in etiological examinations are usually costly and some are invasive. If everyone undergoes etiological testing directly, it will not only be a heavy personal burden, but also result in a waste of medical resources.

 

If preliminary screening is conducted to stratify risks, it can provide more accurate guidance for subsequent etiological examinations and treatments.

risk level	Medical advice
No risk at present	Maintain a positive mindset and healthy lifestyle Strengthen physical exercise Prevention of hypertension, hyperlipidemia diagnosis, diabetes
Low risk	It is recommended to seek specialized medical attention and have regular EEG check ups every six months Further improvement if necessary AD Related inspections* Maintain a positive mindset, improve lifestyle (quit smoking and limit alcohol consumption), and optimize dietary habits Strengthen social activities and enhance physical exercise Actively carry out cognitive interventions
Medium to high risk	It is recommended to seek specialized medical attention and have regular follow-up EEG scans every three months improve AD Related inspections* Maintain a positive mindset, improve lifestyle (quit smoking and limit alcohol consumption), and optimize dietary habits Strengthen social activities and enhance physical exercise Actively carry out cognitive therapy improvement, mainly including drug and non drug interventions (such as cognitive training, non-invasive neural regulation)