The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has introduced the Neuroimaging Technologies for Improved Diagnosis and Treatment of Neurological and Neuropsychiatric Conditions in the Philippines (NEUROMAP PH) project, which aims to enhance early detection and treatment of neurological disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, through innovative brain imaging technologies.
Implemented by St. Luke’s Medical Center, NEUROMAP PH is the first of its kind in the Philippines to integrate multimodal imaging systems, which include structural-functional magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI and fMRI), diffusion tensor imaging, and positron emission tomography (PET).
These systems enable clinicians to identify early markers of conditions, such as Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal dementia that are often difficult to diagnose with current tools.
2.5 million dementia cases by 2050
Based on a population-based study, 10.6 percent of elderly Filipinos are living with undiagnosed dementia or Alzheimer's disease, which contributed to delays in treatment.
Alzheimer's accounts for 85.5 percent of dementia cases among Filipinos aged 60 and above. Estimates project that the number of dementia cases in the Philippines could rise to 1.5 million by 2030 and 2.5 million by 2050.
With a DOST-PCHRD funding support of P60 million, NEUROMAP PH seeks to enhance the country's ability to detect and manage neurological conditions early.
“With the neuroimaging biobank, I am positive that this will open more doors to more comprehensive R&D efforts and better diagnostic methods,” DOST’s Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD) Executive Director Dr. Jaime C. Montoya said.
The project also aims to establish a neuroimaging biobank to support the development of localized diagnostic protocols and foster continued research into brain and mental health issues.
“We, at DOST, are invested in providing solutions to a more comprehensive and collaborative approach in developing technologies to assess and allow early detection for Neurological and Neuropsychiatric Conditions,” DOST Secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr. said.
“Through projects like NEUROMAP PH, we open opportunities for stronger partnerships with experts overseas to strengthen our local research capacity. We hope to build the necessary infrastructure and enhance the skills of our local experts in creating effective treatment strategies for brain and mental health conditions in the country,” Solidum added.
Brain mapping center eyed
The project also plans to establish a Brain Mapping Center, a dedicated facility for advancing research, diagnostics, and the unified management of neurological diseases.
The center will contribute to the effective implementation of Republic Act No. 11036 or the Mental Health Law.
While led by Filipino researchers, NEUROMAP PH benefits from technical support through its partnership with the Brain and Mind Research Center of Nagoya University in Japan.
Japanese researchers are helping refine protocols for image acquisition and analysis while training local experts in advanced neuroimaging methods, thereby boosting the project's capacity to meet the country's growing neurological health needs.