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New Developments in Cholinergic Imaging in Alzheimer and Lewy Body Disorders

  • Geropsychiatry & Cognitive Disorders of Late Life (P Newhouse, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

This paper aims to review novel trends in cholinergic neuroimaging in Alzheimer and Lewy body parkinsonian disorders.

Recent Findings

The spectrum of cholinergic imaging is expanding with the availability of spatially more precise radioligands that allow assessment of previously less recognized subcortical and cortical structures with more dense cholinergic innervation. In addition, advances in MRI techniques now allow quantitative structural or functional assessment of both the cholinergic forebrain and the pedunculopontine nucleus, which may serve as non-invasive prognostic predictors. Multimodal imaging approaches, such as PET-MRI or multiligand PET, offer new insights into the dynamic and interactive roles of the cholinergic system at both local and larger-scale neural network levels.

Summary

Our understanding of the heterogeneous roles of the cholinergic system in age-related diseases is evolving. Multimodal imaging approaches that provide complimentary views of the cholinergic system will be necessary to shed light on the impact of cholinergic degeneration on regional and large-scale neural networks that underpin clinical symptom manifestation in neurodegeneration.

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Abbreviations

AD:

Alzheimer disease

cBF:

Cholinergic basal forebrain

DTI:

Diffusion tensor imaging

PD:

Parkinson disease

LBD:

Lewy body dementias

Ch4:

Nucleus basalis of Meynert

PPN:

Pedunculopontine nucleus

VAChT:

Vesicular Acetylcholine Transporter

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Funding

Nicola J. Ray has received research funding through a grant from The Wellcome Trust. Martijn L.T.M. Müller has received research funding through grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Department of Veterans Affairs. Nicolaas I. Bohnen has received research funding through grants from the NIH, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Michael J. Fox Foundation, Eisai, EIP Pharma, and Axovant Gene Therapies; has received compensation from Eisai for participating on an advisory board; and has received in-kind research support from Expansion Therapeutics and Innovative Health Solutions.

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Correspondence to Nicolaas I. Bohnen.

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Craig, C.E., Ray, N.J., Müller, M.L.T.M. et al. New Developments in Cholinergic Imaging in Alzheimer and Lewy Body Disorders. Curr Behav Neurosci Rep 7, 278–286 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40473-020-00221-6

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