Weill Cornell Medicine
Citigroup Biomedical Imaging Center
Weill Cornell Medicine
Citigroup Biomedical Imaging Center

Overview of tau PET molecular imaging.

Publication Type Review
Authors Cassinelli Petersen G, Roytman M, Chiang G, Li Y, Gordon M, Franceschi A
Journal Curr Opin Neurol
Volume 35
Issue 2
Pagination 230-239
Date Published 04/01/2022
ISSN 1473-6551
Keywords Alzheimer Disease, Neurodegenerative Diseases, Tauopathies
Abstract PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This article reviews tau PET imaging with an emphasis on first-generation and second-generation tau radiotracers and their application in neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's disease and non-Alzheimer's disease tauopathies. RECENT FINDINGS: Tau is a critical protein, abundant in neurons within the central nervous system, which plays an important role in maintaining microtubules by binding to tubulin in axons. In its abnormal hyperphosphorylated form, accumulation of tau has been linked to a variety of neurodegenerative disorders, collectively referred to as tauopathies, which include Alzheimer's disease and non-Alzheimer's disease tauopathies [e.g., corticobasal degeneration (CBD), argyrophilic grain disease, progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), and Pick's disease]. A number of first-generation and second-generation tau PET radiotracers have been developed, including the first FDA-approved agent [18F]-flortaucipir, which allow for in-vivo molecular imaging of underlying histopathology antemortem, ultimately guiding disease staging and development of disease-modifying therapeutics. SUMMARY: Tau PET is an emerging imaging modality in the diagnosis and staging of tauopathies.
DOI 10.1097/WCO.0000000000001035
PubMed ID 35191407
PubMed Central ID PMC9011369
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