Hello
@Lilstar
Dementia in some people progresses very slowly while the progression can be much more rapid in others
Do you think the second scan was to confirm findings from the first?
This might help you understand better;
The dementia diagnosis process can be different for everyone. This page describes the typical steps involved in getting a diagnosis.
www.alzheimers.org.uk
Types of brain scan
CT (computerised tomography), CAT (computerised axial tomography) and MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans are widely used. They all show structural changes to brain tissue.
SPECT (single photon emission computerised tomography) and PET(positron emission tomography) scans are less widely-used. They show changes in brain activity.
CT and MRI scans can identify conditions with similar symptoms to dementia such as a brain bleed, tumour or build-up of fluid inside the brain. If there is dementia, these scans may show that the brain has shrunk in certain areas, particularly those involved in storing short-term memories. MRI may show changes caused by damaged or diseased blood vessels in the brain, potentially indicating that a stroke may have occurred at some point, which could lead to vascular dementia.
SPECT and other more specialised scans can show areas where brain activity is reduced. These are mostly used if the diagnosis of dementia type is still unclear after a CT or MRI scan.