Amyloid imaging: Past, present and future perspectives

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterised by the gradual onset of dementia. The pathological hallmarks of the disease are Aβ amyloid plaques, and tau neurofibrillary tangles, along dendritic and synaptic loss and reactive gliosis. Functional and molecular neuroimaging techniques such as positron emission tomography (PET) using functional and molecular tracers, in conjuction with other Aβ and tau biomarkers in CSF, are proving valuable in the differential diagnosis of AD, as well as in establishing disease prognosis. With the advent of new therapeutic strategies, there has been an increasing application of these techniques for the determination of Aβ burden in vivo in the patient selection, evaluation of target engagement and assessment of the efficacy of therapeutic approaches aimed at reducing Aβ in the brain.

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; Aβ; Brain imaging; Neurodegenerative disorders; Positron emission tomography.