ABSTRACT
The ability to localize and quantify amyloid deposition in the living brain can
advance the study and management of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in several
important ways. This chapter describes some recent progress in the development
and application of amyloid imaging agents. Sensitive in vivo detection of amyloid
deposition could aid in early, perhaps even pre-clinical, diagnosis. Longitudinal
studies of amyloid deposition could shed new light onto the controversial “amyloid
cascade hypothesis.” The ability to assess amyloid deposition pre-and post-
treatment with anti-amyloid therapies could significantly facilitate the develop-
ment of these promising experimental treatments. Surrogate marker questions
must await clinical trials in which amyloid imaging is performed before and after
treatment with anti-amyloid therapies. While the results of initial studies are
promising, they must be followed by larger studies, employing a wider range of
disease severity, incorporating longitudinal studies, and examining amyloid
imaging agent retention in dementias other than AD.
