Abstract Body

Aims:

With over 15 years of PET amyloid Imaging, much has been accomplished using feasible tissue ratios, simplified dynamic imaging protocols, and F-18 labeled imaging agents for wide application. In recent years, the availability of selective F-18 labeled tau PET radioligands has expanded opportunity to improve our understanding of brain aging, of tau deposition in vivo, and of in vivo relationships between tau and amyloid accumulation in the development of cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease. The aim of this presentation is to review current PET methodology considerations for amyloid and tau PET imaging, particularly in the context of multisite studies and early disease detection.

Methods and Results:

The in vivo characteristics of the most widely used amyloid and tau PET imaging agents will be reviewed. Consideration will be given to persistent quantification issues, such as nonspecific and/or off-target signal and reference region delineation. This presentation will also review recent published studies involving data harmonization and targeting of very early neuropathological protein deposition.

Conclusions:

Methodology advances and validation efforts have helped to offset and further inform on potentially limiting factors that arise in amyloid and tau PET imaging. These efforts underscore the continued relevance of PET methodology considerations in our current amyloid and tau PET imaging applications.