Kuwait to introduce advanced nuclear tests for early Alzheimer’s diagnosis

Dr. Abdul-Redha Ismail, Head of the Nuclear Medicine Departments Council at the Ministry of Health, announced that nuclear medicine and molecular imaging in Kuwait have witnessed major advances in recent years, transforming the specialty into a key pillar of clinical services.

He said its applications now extend well beyond tumors and cardiac diseases, with further developments expected to be announced soon.

Speaking at the opening of an international workshop titled “Latest Developments in Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging for the Diagnosis of Neurological Diseases,” Dr. Abdul-Redha highlighted plans to introduce specialized radioactive tracers to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease using molecular imaging, reports Al-Rai daily.

He explained that this step comes in parallel with the emergence of modern treatments for the disease, and that the official launch of the technology will be announced once all technical and regulatory requirements are completed.

He noted that nuclear medicine departments in Kuwait are already playing a vital role in diagnosing and monitoring a range of neurological disorders.

These include epilepsy — where imaging helps identify seizure foci in preparation for surgical intervention — as well as age-related dementia and certain complex brain tumors. According to Dr. Abdul-Redha, diagnostic performance in Kuwait is in line with international standards.

The workshop brought together leading experts and speakers from Kuwait, the Arab region and abroad, reflecting the growing importance of multidisciplinary cooperation in modern healthcare.

Dr. Abdul-Redha stressed that the development of medical services depends on knowledge exchange, strengthening partnerships, and investing in national expertise.

He added that organizing specialized scientific workshops forms part of the Council’s strategy for continuous professional development of Ministry of Health staff and for strengthening integration with other medical specialties. The focus of this workshop on neurological diseases comes amid rapid global advances in this field.

For his part, Dr. Muhammad Al-Shaheen, head of the workshop’s scientific committee, said the event was held under the patronage of Minister of Health Dr. Ahmed Al-Awadhi and featured international participation. He explained that the program included expert lectures on the latest techniques for diagnosing nervous system disorders.

Dr. Al-Shaheen said the workshop aimed to enhance cooperation between medical disciplines and keep pace with global scientific progress. Topics covered included movement disorders, epilepsy, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, as well as nervous system tumors and methods for diagnosis and monitoring treatment response.

He added that future diagnostic tests planned by the Ministry of Health were also discussed, including amyloid imaging for Alzheimer’s disease. He emphasized that nuclear medicine’s primary role remains diagnostic, providing clinical teams with precise information that supports accurate diagnoses and helps guide appropriate treatment plans.