ABSTRACT
References 124
Molecular neuroimaging techniques such as positron emission tomography (PET) have been used for the in vivo assessment of molecular processes at their sites of action, permitting detection of subtle pathophysiological changes in the brain at asymptomatic stages, when there is no evidence of anatomic changes on computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The development of molecular imaging methods for non-invasively assessing disease-specific traits such as beta-amyloid (Ab) burden in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is allowing early diagnosis at presymptomatic stages, more accurate differential diagnosis as well as, when available, the evaluation and monitoring of disease-modifying therapy (Table 13.1) (Mathis et al., 2007; Villemagne et al., 2008a).
