Neurology
Clinical Evaluation of Amyloid-PET for Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment
This essential project will evaluate the utility and impact of incorporating amyloid PET scans in diagnosing Alzeheimer’s disease.
Research Objectives
Status
Recruitment
Patient Group
Study location
Study type
Lead investigator
- A/Prof David Wong
Experienced investigator
- Dr Sepinoud Firouzmand
About this research project
The prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease in Australia is predicted to double in the next 20 years. The introduction of two newly approved medications offers hope for patients and highlights the need for early and accurate diagnosis. While functional diagnostic imaging, such as FDG PET/CT scans, have provided advantages over more invasive methods, they lack efficacy in diagnosing those with atypical presentations and at earlier stages (uncertain/equivocal cases). Recently, the amyloid PET/CT scan, targeting the disease’s hallmark (amyloid β plaques) has shown promise in diagnosing uncertain cases in international studies. Therefore, the primary objective of this study is to evaluate the added value of amyloid PET scans in reaching a final diagnosis in a subgroup of cases where the final diagnosis remains uncertain following the clinical and FDG-PET assessments. Such evidence could play a fundamental role in the revision of diagnostic guidelines in Australia and consequently in changing patient management plans.