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Groundbreaking Update in Alzheimer’s Assessment: New Guidelines for Amyloid and Tau PET Imaging Released
2025-01-28
Author: Rajesh
Groundbreaking Update in Alzheimer’s Assessment: New Guidelines for Amyloid and Tau PET Imaging Released
In a significant advancement for Alzheimer’s diagnostics, the Alzheimer’s Association, in collaboration with the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI), has unveiled updated Appropriate Use Criteria (AUC) concerning amyloid and tau PET imaging. This critical update was jointly published in respected journals, including Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association and The Journal of Nuclear Medicine.
As dementia-related diagnoses evolve, clinicians have a growing need for up-to-date guidelines on how to effectively employ amyloid and tau PET tests, known as the "gold standard" for imaging. Maria C. Carrillo, PhD, Chief Science Officer at the Alzheimer’s Association, stated, “This report synthesizes the latest data and technological advances, ensuring that neurologists and other healthcare providers utilize these tests optimally.
Notably, this is the first major revision of the AUC since they were first introduced for amyloid PET in 2013. The revised criteria detail 17 real-world scenarios to guide clinicians on the appropriate use of amyloid or tau PET, providing specific evaluations for each context.
Strong Recommendations for Utilizing PET Imaging
The strongest recommendations for utilizing PET imaging include:
Assessment and Prognosis: When evaluating individuals with mild cognitive impairment.
Unclear Dementia Cases: Helping diagnose patients when the cause of dementia is ambiguous.
Treatment Eligibility: Assessing patients for new disease-modifying therapies and monitoring their response to treatment.