Can a CT scan or MRI show serotonin depletion or other neurochemical problems?

Question

Can CT scans or MRI's or other brain scans (please list) show neurochemical problems with the brain such as low serotonin, receptor damage, low/high dopamine, problem with HPA axis, ACTH, etc??

What is the best brain test? MRI or CT scan ? are there other ones which are better?

Answer 1

Specialized PET scans can be done to look at specific brain chemistry-- where a particular drug works in the brain, etc.  MR spectroscopy can identify specific chemicals in the brain.  THis is usually used looking for tumor markers- helps distinguish one kind of tumor from another.  I do not think they can run a

"general unknown" kind of scan to detect levels of all the many many chemicals in the brain. There are so many neurotransmitters now they just number them.  Maybe there is a Researcher on YA who has more recent information.  Things change so fast, it is hard to keep up.