Alzheimers Disease: A Review of Recent Developments and the Role of Imaging

1114Purpose: Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the most common form of dementia, is a devastating illness that will affect an estimated 5.7 million Americans and almost 50 million people worldwide in 2018, with numbers expected to nearly triple by 2050. While mortality related to heart disease and stroke has continued to decline, the rate of AD-related death in the United States more than doubled in the period from 2000-2015. Now the 6th leading cause of death, it is the least preventable and treatable of the major causes, and places a tremendous financial, physical, and emotional burden on the estimated 16 million unpaid caregivers who provide the majority of care to patients with Alzheimer’s. Following the recent lack of success of numerous therapeutic trials aimed at slowing the progression of cognitive impairment in AD patients, there has been an increased emphasis on the early, preclinical detection of Alzheimer’s disease, in which diagnostic imaging plays a key role. This educational exhibit aims to provide a brief but comprehensive review of recent developments related to AD with an emphasis on imaging. Methods: Summarize current understanding regarding the pathophysiology of AD. Describe relevant diagnostic imaging findings for current and evolving techniques such as MRI and PET/CT. Provide a general discussion of the role of imaging in AD going forward. Findings: The use of MRI is recommended and approved for the initial evaluation of patients with cognitiv...
Source: Journal of Nuclear Medicine - Category: Nuclear Medicine Authors: Tags: Educational Exhibit Posters Source Type: research