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Nuclear Medicine in Psychiatry pp 191–199Cite as

β-Amyloid Imaging In Vivo and Its Possible Implications for Alzheimer’s Disease

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Abstract

A central and initiating biochemical feature of most forms of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is mis-processing of the neurotoxic amyloid β-peptide (Aβ). Promising therapeutic strategies are being developed directed at various steps in the Aβ biochemical cascade, resulting in reduction of accumulated Aβ. Promising radiotracers such as [18F]FDDNP, [11C]PIB and [11C]SB-13 have been developed for PET imaging of cerebral Aβ accumulation in vivo. The combination of these promising therapeutic strategies and radiotracers will hopefully allow for early detection and preventative treatment of AD. This will need to be studied prospectively in subjects at risk for AD, such as amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI), with adequate follow-up. Longitudinal Aβ PET studies may also help us resolve the question whether aging subjects without detectable cognitive impairment but with Aβ accumulation are at increased risk for developing AD. Repeated Aβ PET could be used to study the efficacy of β-amyloid-reducing medications.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Kunin-Lunefeld Applied Research Centre, Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care and Pet Centre, Center for Addiction and Mental Health and Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, 3560 Bathurst Street, Toronto, Ontario, M6A 2E1, Canada

    N. P. L. G. Verhoeff & L. Trop

  2. PET Centre, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, 3560 Bathurst Street, Toronto, Ontario, M6A 2E1, Canada

    A. A. Wilson & D. Hussey

  3. Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

    H. F. Kung

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  1. N. P. L. G. Verhoeff
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  2. A. A. Wilson
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  3. H. F. Kung
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  4. D. Hussey
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  5. L. Trop
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  6. S. Houle
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Ghent, De Pintelaan 185, 9000, Gent, Belgium

    Andreas Otte  & Rudi A. Dierckx  & 

  2. University Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Ghent, De Pintelaan 185, 9000, Gent, Belgium

    Kurt Audenaert  & Kees van Heeringen  & 

  3. Department of Medical Imaging Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820, Merelbeke, Belgium

    Kathelijne Peremans

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Verhoeff, N.P.L.G., Wilson, A.A., Kung, H.F., Hussey, D., Trop, L., Houle, S. (2004). β-Amyloid Imaging In Vivo and Its Possible Implications for Alzheimer’s Disease. In: Otte, A., Audenaert, K., Peremans, K., van Heeringen, K., Dierckx, R.A. (eds) Nuclear Medicine in Psychiatry. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-18773-5_13

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