Neuroimaging of Diseases Causing Dementia

Neurol Clin. 2020 Feb;38(1):65-94. doi: 10.1016/j.ncl.2019.08.003. Epub 2019 Nov 7.

Abstract

Neuroimaging provides a window on the biological events underlying dementia. Amyloid PET is positive in Alzheimer disease (AD) and some cases of diffuse Lewy body disease, but negative in the frontotemporal dementias (FTDs). Tau PET using the current tracers shows the greatest signal in AD and a lesser signal in FTD. Quantifying volume loss with MRI and measuring metabolism with fluorodeoxyglucose PET helps separate different causes of dementia and follow their progression. Brain inflammation can be assessed with PET. Some of these techniques, still investigational, are likely to find their clinical niche in the near future.

Keywords: Alzheimer disease; Amyloid β; Neurodegeneration; Neuroimaging; PET; Tau.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Alzheimer Disease / diagnostic imaging
  • Alzheimer Disease / epidemiology
  • Alzheimer Disease / metabolism
  • Dementia / diagnostic imaging*
  • Dementia / epidemiology*
  • Dementia / metabolism
  • Disease Progression*
  • Frontotemporal Dementia / diagnostic imaging
  • Frontotemporal Dementia / epidemiology
  • Frontotemporal Dementia / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Lewy Body Disease / diagnostic imaging
  • Lewy Body Disease / epidemiology
  • Lewy Body Disease / metabolism
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods
  • Neuroimaging / methods*
  • Positron-Emission Tomography / methods
  • tau Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • tau Proteins