Patient and caregiver reactions to clinical amyloid imaging

Joshua D Grill; Chelsea G Cox; Sarah Kremen; Mario F Mendez; Edmond Teng; Jill Shapira; John M Ringman; Liana G Apostolova

doi:10.1016/j.jalz.2017.01.001

Patient and caregiver reactions to clinical amyloid imaging

Alzheimers Dement. 2017 Aug;13(8):924-932. doi: 10.1016/j.jalz.2017.01.001. Epub 2017 Feb 4.

Authors

Joshua D Grill¹, Chelsea G Cox², Sarah Kremen³, Mario F Mendez⁴, Edmond Teng⁴, Jill Shapira⁴, John M Ringman⁵, Liana G Apostolova⁶

Affiliations

¹ Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA.
³ Department of Neurology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
⁴ Department of Neurology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Greater Los Angeles VA Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
⁵ Department of Neurology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
⁶ Department of Neurology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Alzheimer's Disease Center, University of Indiana, Indianapolis, IN, USA; Department of Neurology, University of Indiana, Indianapolis, IN, USA; Department of Radiology, University of Indiana, Indianapolis, IN, USA; Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, University of Indiana, Indianapolis, IN, USA.

Abstract

Introduction: Amyloid imaging is a tool that has recently become available to dementia specialists evaluating patients with possible Alzheimer's disease. Studies have assessed the impact of amyloid imaging on diagnostic and treatment decisions, but patient and family perspectives have received less attention.

Methods: To examine how amyloid imaging affects the diagnostic experience of patients and families, we interviewed members of 26 patient-caregiver dyads with whom a neurologist discussed the option of amyloid positron emission tomography.

Results: Most participants who chose to undergo amyloid imaging would choose to do so again. Regardless of the scan outcome, patients and caregivers commonly expressed relief on learning the scan results. Some participants expressed expectations that were beyond scan capabilities.

Discussion: Amyloid imaging may provide information that patients and their families find useful. Clinicians must set correct expectations and ensure that families understand the limitations of amyloid imaging.

Keywords: Amyloid imaging; Biomarker; Diagnosis; Encounter; Positron emission tomography.

MeSH terms

Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Alzheimer Disease / diagnostic imaging
Alzheimer Disease / metabolism
Alzheimer Disease / psychology
Amyloid / metabolism*
Aniline Compounds
Brain / diagnostic imaging*
Brain / metabolism*
Caregivers / psychology*
Cognitive Dysfunction / diagnostic imaging
Cognitive Dysfunction / metabolism
Cognitive Dysfunction / psychology
Ethylene Glycols
Female
Humans
Interviews as Topic
Male
Memory Disorders / diagnostic imaging
Memory Disorders / metabolism
Memory Disorders / psychology
Mental Status and Dementia Tests
Middle Aged
Patient Satisfaction*
Positron-Emission Tomography / psychology*
Radiopharmaceuticals

Substances

Amyloid
Aniline Compounds
Ethylene Glycols
Radiopharmaceuticals
florbetapir

Abstract

MeSH terms

Substances

Grants and funding