Radiotracers Used to Image the Brains of Patients with Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) being the most common form of dementia in individuals over the age of 65 years and with an ever-aging global population, the prevalence of the disease is expected to double in the next 10 years. With the associated high cost, and burden on caregivers, it is imperative that we develop sensitive biomarkers to aid in the diagnosis and treatment for the monitoring of these patients. In recent years, there has been a significant improvement in positron emission tomography (PET) scanner technology and development of new radiotracers that are more target specific.PET imaging of the brain has proven to be the most accurate noninvasive method of not only diagnosing and differentiating the different types of dementia but also predicting the likelihood of developing the disease. Brain PET imaging in combination with pathology may also aid in evaluating the various hypotheses of AD pathogenesis.Although no curative treatment currently exists, the development of novel medications is very much active in many clinical trials. PET imaging will continue to play a significant role in these developments. In this chapter, we will review the various amyloid imaging radiotracers, novel as well as existing, and expand upon their potentials, pitfalls, and relative comparison.