2023 Volume 9 Pages 5-8
The relationship between Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and cerebrovascular disease (CVD) is attracting attention. To investigate this complex relationship, it is necessary to focus on biomarkers that can assess AD pathophysiology. Positron emission tomography (PET) to detect amyloid-β (Aβ) can visualize the distribution of Aβ accumulation in the brains of AD patients. Amyloid PET imaging has been evaluated qualitatively, but a quantitative evaluation has also been developed to allow better comparison of data across institutions. Quantitative amyloid PET analysis has been used in the development of many disease-modifying drugs against AD. Cerebrospinal fluid and serum biomarkers have also been developed to investigate Aβ pathology, but the advantage of amyloid PET imaging is its ability to assess Aβ accumulation in a site-specific manner.
Spatial assessment of Aβ accumulation by amyloid PET is useful when investigating its association with CVD. We have revealed that more severe CVD findings are associated with milder Aβ accumulation in patients with AD. Simultaneous presence of Aβ and CVD pathologies, compared to the presence of either pathology alone, has been shown to significantly accelerate the onset of clinical dementia and cognitive decline. To prevent cognitive decline in AD patients, it is important to manage vascular risk factors and prevent CVD.
