linking molecular neurobiology to therapeutic approaches for alzheimer’s disease with PET

Abstract

The present review is a text version of a plenary lecture given at the International Symposium on PET and SPECT in Neurology and Psychiatry on April 23, 2012, in Groningen, the Netherlands. In this communication, we will shortly review a series of experimental studies on potential mechanisms underlying the pathogenic processes of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and how some of these mechanisms can be visualized with PET imaging. We will specifi cally focus on imaging of beta amyloid (Aâ) and how to combat Aâ aggregation. We conclude that limiting production and clearance of Aâ can be a major target for Alzheimer drug development. Furthermore, we will address the role of blood supply to the brain, the blood–brain barrier, and the fate of brain microvasculature in AD. Finally, we will argue how neuroinfl ammation in AD may lead to depression-like symptoms as a comorbidity in AD.