TONIGHT---WE WANT TO SHOW YOU A NEW TECHNOLOGY THAT COULD HELP ALZHEIMER'S PATIENTS LIVE A BETTER LIFE.

RESEARCHERS HAVE DISCOVERED A WAY TO WATCH THE PROGRESSION OF ALZHEIMER'S, IN THE PATIENT'S BRAIN.

THEY CAN EVEN SEE HOW A GIVEN MEDICATION IS AFFECTING THE BRAIN CELLS.

IT TOOK DEDICATED RESEARCHERS, AND A SUPER COMPUTER, TO PRODUCE THIS SEVEN-SECOND VIDEO IMAGE. WHAT IT REVEALS MAY CHANGE THE FUTURE OF ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE.

Paul Thompson, Ph.D./University of California/Los Angeles:

"You actually get a physical picture of how the devastation of Alzheimer's is spreading across the brain, which parts of the brain are affected, and how fast."

THE SEQUENCE IS ACTUALLY A COMPOSITE OF A DOZEN PATIENTS WHO HAD M-R-I'S OVER A YEAR AND A HALF. THIS COMPUTER COMBINED THE BRAIN SCANS INTO A MOVING IMAGE. THE RED ARES SHOW BRAIN CELLS DYING.

"So memory areas lose tissue first, and that makes sense because memoryis the first to go, then the emotional areas of the brain, the areas involved in self-control, are the next to go."

FOR PEOPLE LIKE RAY AVERILL THE NEW TECHNOLOGY COULD BUY TIME. HE'S SHOWING EARLY SIGNS OF WHAT MAY BE ALZHEIMER'S.

Ray Averill/Alzheimer's Patient:

"Verbally, when I want to talk, I will have difficulty getting the right word out. Though I know what the word is, my mouth won't say the right thing."

IF RAY DOES HAVE EARLY ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE, THE NEW TECHNOLOGY COULD HELP GET HIM THE TREATMENT HE'LL NEED TO SLOW THE PROGRESSION.

"They'll be able to make the change & say, 'Oh this isn't gonna be able to work on him. See what's happened here. Now we'll try this one.'"

RESEARCHERS SAY THAT MAY NOW BE POSSIBLE..THANKS TO THESE IMAGES THAT ARE CATCHING ALZHEIMER'S RED-HANDED.

THIS NEW TECHNOLOGY IS STILL IN THE TESTING STAGES.

RESEARCHERS AT U-C-L-A ARE USING THIS IMAGERY TO SEE HOW DRUGS AND VACCINES CAN COMBAT THE BRAIN DAMAGE CAUSED BY ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE.