Imaging the Vesicular Acetylcholine Transporter in Schizophrenia: a PET study using [18F]-VAT

Despite longstanding interest in the central cholinergic system in schizophrenia, cholinergic imaging studies in patients have been limited to receptors. Here, we conducted a proof-of-concept positron emission tomography (PET) study using [18F]-VAT, a new radiotracer which targets the vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT) as a proxy measure of acetylcholine transmission capacity, in patients with schizophrenia, and explored relationships of VAChT with clinical symptoms and cognition.

Source: Biological Psychiatry - February 1, 2024 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Jodi J. Weinstein, Scott J. Moeller, Greg Perlman, Roberto Gil, Jared X. Van Snellenberg, Kenneth Wengler, Jiayan Meng, Mark Slifstein, Anissa Abi-Dargham Tags: Archival Report Source Type: research