PET finds hypometabolism in healthy brains that may indicate pre-Alzheimer’s disease.
PET images detected an association between hypometabolism and amyloid in brains of people with pre-Alzheimer’s who don’t show any signs of cognitive decline, according to presentation at the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) 2013 annual meeting.
The amyloid plaque build-up in the brain in Alzheimer’s is known, but now there appears to be a connection between the amyloid burden and hypometabolism of neurons in parts of the brain that have been associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
“Previous studies indicate that hypometabolism of this same pattern is present in people who have abnormalities of the gene apolipoprotein E, or APOE,” Val J. Lowe, MD, professor of radiology at Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, said in a release. “Hypometabolism does appear to be an early harbinger of the disease before dementia sets in.”.
Researchers from the Mayo Clinic Study of Aging studied PET images of 617 cognitively normal subjects. Each subject first underwent imaging with the amyloid-binding radionuclide imaging agent C-11 Pittsburgh compound B (PiB), followed an hour later with a second exam which used F018 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG).
The researchers found that there was significant hypometabolism in brain regions classically associated with Alzheimer’s disease, including the angular gyrus and posterior cingulate.
The researchers will continue to follow the subjects to see if they progress to Alzheimer’s disease, and to study the ones do not develop the disease but do have amyloid in their brain.
SNMMI: Botox May Facilitate Relief from Dry Mouth Side Effect of PSMA-Targeted Radiopharmaceuticals
June 25th 2025For patients being treated with radiopharmaceutical agents for metastatic prostate cancer, the combination of botulinum toxin and an anti-nausea patch led to a 30 percent reduction in PSMA uptake in the salivary glands, according to preliminary research findings presented at the SNMMI conference.
SNMMI: Can 18F-Fluciclovine PET/CT Bolster Detection of PCa Recurrence in the Prostate Bed?
June 24th 2025In an ongoing prospective study of patients with biochemical recurrence of PCa and an initial negative PSMA PET/CT, preliminary findings revealed positive 18F-fluciclovine PET/CT scans in over 54 percent of the cohort, according to a recent poster presentation at the SNMMI conference.
Could an Emerging PET Tracer be a Game Changer for Detecting Hepatocellular Carcinoma?
June 23rd 2025In addition to over 90 percent sensitivity in detecting hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the glypican-3 (GPC3) targeted PET tracer 68Ga-aGPC3-scFv appeared to be advantageous in identifying HCC tumors smaller than one centimeter, according to pilot study findings presented at the SNMMI conference.
SNMMI: What a New Meta-Analysis Reveals About Radiotracers for PET/CT Detection of PCa
June 22nd 2025While (68Ga)Ga-PSMA-11 offers a pooled sensitivity rate of 92 percent for prostate cancer, (18F)-based radiotracers may offer enhanced lesion detection as well as improved imaging flexibility, according to a meta-analysis presented at the Society for Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) conference.
SNMMI: Can Multimodal Monitoring Bolster Outcomes with Pluvicto in Treating mCRPC?
June 22nd 2025Multimodal treatment monitoring, including SPECT/CT exams 24 hours after treatment with Lu-177 PSMA-617, may have facilitated significantly shorter therapy durations and reduced side effects in patients with mCRPC, according to a two-year study presented at the Society for Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) conference.