Clinical Applications of PET Imaging in Alzheimer's Disease

PET Clin. 2025 Jan;20(1):89-100. doi: 10.1016/j.cpet.2024.09.015.

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease (AD) involves a complex pathophysiology of neurodegeneration that leads to severe cognitive deficiencies. Understanding the molecular alterations that underlie this disease is fundamental to clinical management and therapeutic innovation. Functional imaging with positron emission tomography (PET) enables a visualization of these impaired pathways, such as cerebral hypometabolism, amyloid and tau accumulation, and neurotransmitter dysfunction. This review discusses the clinical applications of PET in AD and mild cognitive impairment, focusing on relevant original research studies for disease diagnosis, progression, and treatment response.

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; Amyloid; Mild cognitive impairment; Positron emission tomography.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Alzheimer Disease* / diagnostic imaging
  • Brain* / diagnostic imaging
  • Cognitive Dysfunction / diagnostic imaging
  • Humans
  • Positron-Emission Tomography* / methods
  • Radiopharmaceuticals

Substances

  • Radiopharmaceuticals