I have had a DAT Scant to confirm that I do not have Parkinson's. The key to a Dat scan as I understand is the imaging technique and injection of the material to allow a specific review, the MRI is more generalized, I was treated for over 3 years for parkinsons by a neurology team who then passed me to a new physician who is movement specialist and he who determined I didn't have parkinsons. Still have balance and movement issues which are attributed to a cerebelallar infarct coupled lumbar disc disease and aging in general. :Life is good, Not sure if they can be more specific . Best advice is to exercise and use a supporting walking device such as a cane.

I’ve had the DAT scan as part of a research program through Yale University. The injection of a radio pharmaceutical material is part of SPECT imaging. These scans reveal the severity of brain cell loss and often help diagnose PD vs other brain related diagnosis.

In an MRI they put you in that awful closed container, the DAT scan only covers your head.

I don"tknow much abou it but the MRI uses a magnetic field which can cause problems if there are metal inplants involved. whereas the CTscan uses Radiation. which is a concern factor. I believe the CT in cheeper and faster,and id better for stomach problems or pregnancy issues, MRI is more often used for brain spinal and nerve injury' I read on it some when I had my DBS put in but I still don't know what I;m talking about.

My DAT scan showed the severity of my brain cells' loss, then they knew for sure that I had Parkinsons',