title: Amyloid imaging: Past, present and future perspectives.
abstract: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterised by the gradual onset of dementia. The pathological hallmarks of the disease are Aβ amyloid plaques, and tau neurofibrillary tangles, along dendritic and synaptic loss and reactive gliosis. Functional and molecular neuroimaging techniques such as positron emission tomography (PET) using functional and molecular tracers, in conjuction with other Aβ and tau biomarkers in CSF, are proving valuable in the differential diagnosis of AD, as well as in establishing disease prognosis. With the advent of new therapeutic strategies, there has been an increasing application of these techniques for the determination of Aβ burden in vivo in the patient selection, evaluation of target engagement and assessment of the efficacy of therapeutic approaches aimed at reducing Aβ in the brain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Imaging & Therapy, Centre for PET, Austin Health, 145 Studley Road, Heidelberg, Victoria 3084, Australia; The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Department of Medicine, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Electronic address: victorlv@unimelb.edu.au.
authors.forename: Victor L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Villemagne
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000032:analysis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D000686:Amyloidosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D059906:Neuroimaging; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D016875:tau Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid
chemical_list: D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D015415:Biomarkers; D016875:tau Proteins
keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; Aβ; Brain imaging; Neurodegenerative disorders; Positron emission tomography