title: Dopaminergic imaging: clinical utility now and in the future.
abstract: Over the past ten years, dopaminergic imaging has become increasingly part of the assessment and diagnosis of dementia. There are numerous PET and SPECT ligands available that target different steps in the process of neurotransmission. Abnormalities in dopaminergic imaging measures are consistent features of dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and other parkinsonian syndromes, and can be used to facilitate diagnosis, particularly in distinguishing between DLB and Alzheimer's disease. This review summarizes present knowledge in this area and the implications for current and future clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: University College London and North Essex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Mental Health Unit, St Margaret's Hospital, Epping, Essex, UK. z.walker@ucl.ac.uk
authors.forename: Zuzana
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rodda
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D020961:Lewy Body Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends*; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends*
chemical_list: D004298:Dopamine