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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 23, 2026

Hybrid PET/MRI Imaging of Alzheimer's Disease Based on 18F-AV-1451

Hybrid PET/MRI Imaging of Alzheimer's Disease Based on ¹⁸F-AV-1451

Published on: April 18, 2025

Brain imaging in Alzheimer disease.

Keith A Johnson¹, Nick C Fox, Reisa A Sperling

¹Departments of Radiology and Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA.

Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Medicine

|April 5, 2012

Summary

Advanced imaging techniques like MRI and PET scans are crucial for diagnosing Alzheimer disease (AD). Combining these imaging biomarkers will accelerate AD diagnosis, staging, and the development of new therapies.

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 23, 2026

Hybrid PET/MRI Imaging of Alzheimer's Disease Based on 18F-AV-1451

Hybrid PET/MRI Imaging of Alzheimer's Disease Based on ¹⁸F-AV-1451

Published on: April 18, 2025

Area of Science:

Neurology
Radiology
Biomarkers

Background:

Alzheimer disease (AD) diagnosis has evolved over four decades.
Early imaging (CT, MRI) excluded other dementia causes.
Current imaging identifies characteristic AD brain changes, even in early stages.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the evolving roles of various imaging modalities in Alzheimer disease research.
To discuss the strengths and weaknesses of different imaging techniques for AD.
To highlight the future potential of combined imaging biomarkers for AD management.

Main Methods:

Review of computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for diagnostic exclusion.
Analysis of positron emission tomography (PET) using fluoro-deoxy-d-glucose (FDG) for cerebral metabolism.
Evaluation of PET with amyloid tracers like Pittsburgh Compound-B (PiB).

Main Results:

Structural and functional MRI reveal brain changes in AD.
FDG-PET shows altered cerebral metabolism in AD patients.
Amyloid-PET (PiB) detects characteristic protein deposits in AD and pre-symptomatic stages.

Conclusions:

No single imaging modality is sufficient for all AD diagnostic needs.
Different imaging techniques offer unique insights into AD pathophysiology.
Future research should focus on integrating imaging biomarkers for improved AD diagnosis, staging, and therapeutic development.