JEDDAH: King Abdulaziz University unveiled on Thursday the first diagnostic service for Alzheimer’s disease using integrated positron emission tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, collectively known as PET/MRI.

The service is offered through KAU’s Molecular Imaging Center (I-One), operating under the umbrella of Wadi Jeddah, the university’s investment arm.

The center, the only facility in Saudi Arabia’s Western and Southern regions equipped with a cyclotron for radiopharmaceutical production, spearheads the initiative.

A PET/MRI scan works by creating a three-dimensional image of the body using a PET scan and an MRI scan.

The KAU’s Alzheimer’s diagnostic service utilizes Amyloid PET/MRI imaging, developed in collaboration with Oryx Isotopes.

Early detection and diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease plays a critical role in improving a patient’s quality of life and slowing the progression of the condition.

MADINAH: The Culinary Arts and Hospitality Club in Madinah on Wednesday hosted Cooking Challenge 2 as part of its winter activities in the region.

The event celebrated the distinctive culinary heritage of Madinah while enhancing the skills of local chefs, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

From a pool of 350 club members, two contestants were selected to compete in preparing Madinah’s traditional kabli dish, which was judged by a panel of experts. 

The evaluation criteria included taste, adherence to food health and safety protocols, professional safety standards, creativity and innovation, quality standards, and mastery of cooking techniques. 

The challenge featured Chef Alaa Al-Ahmadi and Chef Asmaa Al-Attas with the latter emerging as the winner.

Chef Enayat Khan, head of the Culinary Arts and Hospitality Club in Madinah, explained that the club’s mission is to unite chefs in Madinah under one platform to exchange knowledge and expertise. 

A key focus is preserving traditional Madinah dishes as well as Saudi cuisine as a whole.

Khan highlighted the club’s diverse pool of national talent, encompassing professionals and passionate amateurs, and expressed the club’s ambition to display Madinah’s culinary excellence on the global stage.

Chef Abdul Wahab Al-Dawi, director of public relations and marketing at the Culinary Arts Club, emphasized the richness and diversity of Saudi cuisine, shaped by the Kingdom’s geography and the integration of animal, marine, and agricultural products. 

He noted that Saudi cuisine has made a notable impact at international exhibitions, reflecting its growing global recognition. 

He said the club continues to host culinary events aimed at enhancing the skills of aspiring chefs, nurturing culinary talent, and discovering new creators in the Madinah region.