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A new perspective for advanced positron emission tomography–based molecular imaging in neurodegenerative proteinopathies
Author(s) -
Perani Daniela,
Iaccarino Leonardo,
Lammertsma Adriaan A.,
Windhorst Albert D.,
Edison Paul,
Boellaard Ronald,
Hansson Oskar,
Nordberg Agneta,
Jacobs Andreas H.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
alzheimer's and dementia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.713
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1552-5279
pISSN - 1552-5260
DOI - 10.1016/j.jalz.2019.02.004
Subject(s) - positron emission tomography , perspective (graphical) , molecular imaging , medicine , neuroscience , medical physics , nuclear medicine , psychology , computer science , artificial intelligence , biology , genetics , in vivo
Recent studies in neurodegenerative conditions have increasingly highlighted that the same neuropathology can trigger different clinical phenotypes or, vice‐versa, that similar phenotypes can be triggered by different neuropathologies. This evidence has called for the adoption of a pathology spectrum‐based approach to study neurodegenerative proteinopathies. These conditions share brain deposition of abnormal protein aggregates, leading to aberrant biochemical, metabolic, functional, and structural changes. Positron emission tomography (PET) is a well‐recognized and unique tool for the in vivo assessment of brain neuropathology, and novel PET techniques are emerging for the study of specific protein species. Today, key applications of PET range from early research and clinical diagnostic tools to their use in clinical trials for both participants screening and outcome evaluation. This position article critically reviews the role of distinct PET molecular tracers for different neurodegenerative proteinopathies, highlighting their strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities, with special emphasis on methodological challenges and future applications.