Current status of amyloid and tau imaging

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is neuropathologically characterized by the deposition of amyloid–β (Aβ) plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. Imaging biomarkers for these protein deposits play a key role in the accurate diagnosis of neurodegenerative dementia and in the development of anti–dementia drugs. Recent advances of AD biomarkers have clarified the dynamic pathological changes underlying AD. Amyloid and tau PET have been widely used for the assessment of Aβ and tau pathology in the living brain. ¹⁸F–labeled amyloid PET probes are commercially available. In addition, several tau probes have been successfully developed. Longitudinal examination of Aβ and tau pathology will clarify the effect of these protein deposits on neurodegenerative process and cognitive impairment in AD.