Amyloid PET disclosure in subjective cognitive decline: Patient experiences over time

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Medical Imaging
• Patient Experience Research

Background:

• Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) affects individuals experiencing cognitive changes without objective impairment.
• Amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) is a diagnostic tool used to detect amyloid plaques in the brain.
• Understanding patient responses to amyloid PET disclosure is crucial for managing cognitive health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate patient experiences and outcomes following amyloid PET disclosure in individuals with SCD.
• To assess satisfaction, information needs, decision regret, and emotional responses over a 6-month period.
• To determine if amyloid status influences patient experiences after disclosure.

Main Methods:

• Fifty-seven participants with SCD underwent amyloid PET scans.
• Patient-reported outcomes were collected via questionnaires at baseline, 1 day post-disclosure, and 6 months post-disclosure.
• Data analysis compared outcomes between amyloid-positive (A+) and amyloid-negative (A-) participants.

Main Results:

• Participants reported high satisfaction with the consultation and information provided, irrespective of amyloid status.
• Amyloid-positive participants showed a significantly higher need for information at 6 months compared to amyloid-negative participants (45% vs. 12%).
• Low levels of decision regret and negative emotions (anxiety, uncertainty) were observed in all participants.

Conclusions:

• Amyloid PET disclosure is positively valued by individuals with SCD, regardless of their amyloid status.
• The increased information needs in amyloid-positive individuals underscore the necessity of ongoing support and follow-up.
• Amyloid PET disclosure can be integrated into clinical practice for SCD without causing significant distress.