Peg - I agree with you 100% !

I'll be taking the train to Boston. One of my visits will be to CISCRP - Center for Information & Study on Clinical Research.

As I understand it, SPECT scans using a radioactive labeled marker (beta-cit) are being researched for their potential to be widely and affordably used both in diagnosis and, eventually, treatment.

I had one last month. It showed greatly reduced dopamine uptake activity overall, indicating Parkinson's. This was no surprise but gave me the perfect gift for the neurologist who told me somewhat blithely that I had Essential Tremor and psychological issues three times last year.

More importantly, the image was asymmetrical in nature; it showed significantly less dopamine uptake activity on one side of the brain than the other. Because I have experienced cognitive changes, the doctor and I were very pleased to see this as it supports the PD diagnosis and rules out MSA and other Parkinson's Plus syndromes.

Or so I understand it.

My guess is that some insurance may cover it if one's neurologist makes the case that it would be helpful. Hope this helps.

Rose

That's great - I hope someday it IS used to diagnose PD. That's why I continue in this clinical trial.

best, Jean

I would urge as many people to ask their physician to require a SPECT scan to confirm the likelyhood the diagnosis is correct for two reasons:

1- The more requests (demand) for SPECT scans, the more production of the technology; the more competition to fill the need for scanners, the lower the cost. Patients should have the right to request any test that will possibly inform their physician of any aspect of the patients condition and the information should openly be shared between physician and patient. Yes, if you ask your HMO or insurance to cover the costs, some will. Mine did. Do not assume they won't.

2- The higher numbers of scans will give more documentation to researchers to look at to discover information about neurological disease, Parkinson's and otherwise.

For the people who get PAN action alerts - this trial is funded by the DOD- Netrp - that every year we push to get funded