Neurotheology: Practical Applications with Regard to Integrative Psychiatry.

Purpose Of Review: Neurotheology is a nascent field of research and scholarship that seeks to understand the relationship between the brain and religious and spiritual phenomena. In the context of integrative psychiatry, neurotheology offers an intriguing intermediary between understanding how spirituality and religion affect brain function, and how this might be related to changes in mental health.

Recent Findings: A number of research studies over the years have observed that religious and spiritual beliefs, practices, and experiences can have a profound impact on a person's psyche.

Clinical Applications of PET Imaging in Alzheimer's Disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) involves a complex pathophysiology of neurodegeneration that leads to severe cognitive deficiencies. Understanding the molecular alterations that underlie this disease is fundamental to clinical management and therapeutic innovation. Functional imaging with positron emission tomography (PET) enables a visualization of these impaired pathways, such as cerebral hypometabolism, amyloid and tau accumulation, and neurotransmitter dysfunction.

Structural and Molecular Imaging of Aging Brain: A Focus on MR Imaging and PET Modalities.

The process of aging in the brain is reflective of various factors including the environment, lifestyle, genetics, and management of concurrent chronic conditions. Aging in the brain leads to observable structural changes on neuroimaging, such as brain volume reduction, neuronal atrophy, and synaptic loss, which affect higher cognitive functions. Positron emission tomography imaging can help visualize these changes earlier before structural changes even take place and the associated decline in brain function, revealing important insights into how the brain ages and the impact on neural connectivity and cognitive abilities.

CT, MRI, and PET Imaging in Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major health concern in the United States and worldwide. Neuroimaging is a critical element in the clinical evaluation of TBIs, as computed tomography (CT) and MR imaging are commonly used to identify structural changes that may aid in treatment decision-making and long-term patient monitoring. This article reviews the utility of CT and MR imaging while focusing on the emerging applications of PET in TBI.