FDG- and amyloid-PET in Alzheimer's disease: is the whole greater than the sum of the parts?

Publication Type	Review
Authors	Mosconi L, McHugh P
Journal	Q J Nucl Med Mol Imaging
Volume	55
Issue	3
Pagination	250-64
Date Published	06/01/2011
ISSN	1824-4785
Keywords	Alzheimer Disease
Abstract	The development of prevention therapies for Alzheimer's disease (AD) would greatly benefit from biomarkers that are sensitive to subtle brain changes occurring prior to the onset of clinical symptoms, when the potential for preservation of function is at the greatest. In vivo brain imaging is a promising tool for the early detection of AD through visualization of abnormalities in brain structure, function and histopathology. Currently, positron emission tomography (PET) imaging with amyloid-beta (Aβ) tracers and 2-[(18)F]fluoro-2-Deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) is largely utilized in the diagnosis of AD. This paper reviews brain Aβ- and FDG-PET studies in AD patients as well as in non-demented individuals at risk for AD. We then discuss the potential of combining symptoms-sensitive FDG-PET measures with pathology-specific Aβ-PET to improve the early detection of AD.
PubMed ID	21532539
PubMed Central ID	PMC3290913