Participants attend the Ministry of Health’s international workshop on the latest developments in nuclear medicine and molecular imaging for diagnosing neurological diseases

He also unveiled the plan to introduce specialized radioactive materials for diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease using molecular imaging in the near future. He said this development coincides with the availability of modern treatments, and that the official announcement of the introduction of this technology will be made as soon as the requirements are met. He added that this year’s workshop focused on neurological diseases, including epilepsy and the identification of epileptic foci in preparation for surgical intervention, as well as age-related dementia and brain tumors. He affirmed that the diagnosis rates for these diseases in Kuwait are within the global average, indicating that the workshop is in line with the commitment of the ministry to support continuing medical education and enhancing the integration of advanced scientific knowledge and its applications, which contribute to developing the medical diagnostic system and, consequently, the quality of healthcare.

He disclosed that the field of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging has been witnessing rapid advancements in recent years, thereby putting the specialization on the map of clinical services in various applications that extend beyond oncology and cardiology. He pointed out that the workshop gathered experts and lecturers from various specializations in and outside Kuwait. He considers this a model, which confirms that the development of health services is achieved through the exchange of expertise, strengthening partnerships, and investing in and developing national expertise.

On the other hand, head of the workshop Dr. Mohammad Al-Shaheen disclosed that the nuclear medicine departments in Kuwait are conducting many diagnostic tests annually for various diseases, noting the use of the latest diagnostic equipment for neurological diseases, such as PET/CT and PET/MRI. He said the ministry is in the process of introducing several tests, such as amyloid testing for diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease. He explained that the diagnostic role of nuclear medicine supports clinicians in reaching an accurate diagnosis, which helps in developing an appropriate treatment plan. He disclosed that the workshop aims to strengthen cooperation between medical specializations and keep abreast of the latest global scientific developments. He added that the workshop’s topics include movement disorders, epilepsy, dementia and Alzheimer’s diseases, as well as tumors of the nervous system, methods of diagnosis, and monitoring treatment response. He said the workshop discussed the latest developments in diagnosing diseases of the nervous system through scientific and interactive lectures. He revealed that the first topic addressed movement disorders and epilepsy, reviewing the role of imaging techniques in supporting diagnosis and assisting in assessing the patient’s condition. The second topic is on memory disorders and dementia, highlighting the importance of early diagnosis and the role of modern technologies in identifying and monitoring these diseases. The third and fourth topics are on tumors of the nervous system, the role of imaging in diagnosing tumors, assessing their spread and helping to monitor the disease after treatment, and developments in the field of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging, such as the role of artificial intelligence, and the use of the latest radioactive materials in diagnosing nervous system diseases.