NARI develops imaging platform to detect dementia

The institute uses brain perfusion data to identify early-stage abnormalities.

The National Atomic Research Institute (NARI) is advancing early detection of brain diseases like dementia through its radiation imaging research, said Yu-Ching Ni, Associate Director, during Medical Taiwan 2025.

“We are doing the advanced radiation imaging,” Ni said. “One of these is a platform for the early detection of dementia.”

NARI’s technology uses brain perfusion data, enabling comparison between healthy and abnormal brain function across age groups. “So we use the ECD spread image that is brain perfusion image, so you can see the brain function,” Ni said. “They have a very nice database to compare what is abnormal, so we can see that the red function is the abnormal in your brain.”

Ni said the tool allows for early-stage intervention. “We can order early and also give some very nice ins to allow you in the very early stage for the brain disease.”