Patient and caregiver reactions to clinical amyloid imaging.
BACKGROUND
Amyloid imaging is a tool that has recently become available to dementia specialists evaluating patients with possible Alzheimer's disease. Studies have assessed the impact of amyloid imaging on diagnostic and treatment decisions, but patient and family perspectives have received less attention.


METHODS
To examine how amyloid imaging affects the diagnostic experience of patients and families, we interviewed members of 26 patient-caregiver dyads with whom a neurologist discussed the option of amyloid positron emission tomography.


RESULTS
Most participants who chose to undergo amyloid imaging would choose to do so again. Regardless of the scan outcome, patients and caregivers commonly expressed relief on learning the scan results. Some participants expressed expectations that were beyond scan capabilities.


CONCLUSIONS
Amyloid imaging may provide information that patients and their families find useful. Clinicians must set correct expectations and ensure that families understand the limitations of amyloid imaging.
Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA. Electronic address: jgrill@uci.edu.
Joshua D
JD
Grill
Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA.
Chelsea G
CG
Cox
Department of Neurology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Sarah
S
Kremen
Department of Neurology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Greater Los Angeles VA Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Mario F
MF
Mendez
Department of Neurology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Greater Los Angeles VA Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Edmond
E
Teng
Department of Neurology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Greater Los Angeles VA Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Jill
J
Shapira
Department of Neurology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
John M
JM
Ringman
Department of Neurology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Alzheimer's Disease Center, University of Indiana, Indianapolis, IN, USA; Department of Neurology, University of Indiana, Indianapolis, IN, USA; Department of Radiology, University of Indiana, Indianapolis, IN, USA; Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, University of Indiana, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
Liana G
LG
Apostolova
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000523:psychology; D000682:Amyloid / Q000378:metabolism*; D000814:Aniline Compounds; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism*; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000523:psychology; D005026:Ethylene Glycols; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000523:psychology; D000073216:Mental Status and Dementia Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000523:psychology*; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals
D000682:Amyloid; D000814:Aniline Compounds; D005026:Ethylene Glycols; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; C545186:florbetapir
Amyloid imaging; Biomarker; Diagnosis; Encounter; Positron emission tomography