title: FDG- and amyloid-PET in Alzheimer's disease: is the whole greater than the sum of the parts?
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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA. lisa.mosconi@nyumc.org
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mosconi
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: McHugh
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000378:metabolism; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005462:Fluorine Radioisotopes; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006801:Humans; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals
chemical_list: D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D005462:Fluorine Radioisotopes; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18