Early signs of Alzheimer's disease can be detected through using brain scans, researchers at the University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA) said on Monday.

They said in a statement that the disease can be successfully detected by using positron emission tomography, or PET, to scan a patient's brain.

Early detection before symptoms appear can increase the effectiveness of treatment to combat the disease, the researchers said.

They said PET scans offer a "window into the brain" that shows signs of neurodegeneration.

The researchers combined that information with other information of a patient such as age and genetic background to assess the risk of developing the disease.

"This type of scan offers an opportunity to see what is really going on inside the brain," said Dr. Gary Small, director of the UCLA Center on Aging, who took part in the study.

"Combining key patient information with a brain scan may give us better predictive power in targeting those who may benefit from early interventions, as well as help test how well treatments are working," Small said.

(Xinhua News Agency January 6, 2009)