Technologist Considerations for Imaging Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease (Podcast)

Jessyca B. Wagner, PhD, RT(R), CIIP

^*Consultant & Co-Founder, CW Elite, LLC.

Address correspondence to: Jessyca B. Wagner, PhD, RT(R), CIIP. E-mail: jessyca@cwelite.com.

Disclosure statement: The presenter reports having no significant financial or advisory relationships with corporate organizations related to this activity.

ABSTRACT

According to the Alzheimer's Association, as of 2023, an estimated 6.7 million Americans aged 65 and older are living with Alzheimer's disease (AD), and an estimated 200 000 Americans aged 30 to 64 have been diagnosed with early onset AD. Since the aging population is seen frequently in medical imaging departments for a variety of reasons, the likelihood of radiologic technologists (RT) encountering and interacting with a patient diagnosed with AD is high. For patients with suspected AD, medical imaging studies such as computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, or positron emission tomography may be ordered to support an AD diagnosis or rule out other conditions or diseases. The goal for all RTs should be to provide a high level of patient care in order to perform a successful imaging study, as well as have an overall understanding of AD, and the best way to interact with AD patients at various stages of disease progression and symptoms. Doing so will ensure that the patient, other RTs, other healthcare providers on the patient's care team, and the patient's primary caregiver will all have a positive experience and that the imaging study will be successful. This continuing education podcast explains AD as a neurogenerative disease, the signs and symptoms of AD, methods of diagnosis, and treatment options. It will also identify general healthcare and medical imaging challenges faced by RTs and outline strategies and considerations for RTs who image patients with AD.