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TOR may utilize visual systems to access an internal object representation. The parietal cortices and inferior frontal regions may be involved in a concomitant lexical strategy of naming the object being examined. Frontal polar activation likely serves a role in visuospatial working memory or in recognizing unusual representations of objects. Overall, these findings suggest that TOR could involve a network of cortical regions subserving somatosensory, motor, visual, and, at times, lexical processing. The primary finding suggests that in this normal study population, the visual cortices may be involved in the topographic spatial processing of TOR.

IntroductionAlzheimer's disease (AD) incidence is disproportionately high in African Americans, yet, recruitment of this community to AD clinical trials is challenging.MethodsWe compared 47 African Americans and 78 whites in their willingness to enroll in a hypothetical preclinical AD trial and examined barriers and facilitators in their decision making.ResultsAfrican American race (OR = 0.45; 95% CI, 0.22–0.93) and score on the research attitude questionnaire (OR = 1.12; 95% CI, 1.04–1.22) were independently associated with willingness to participate. African Americans rated study risks, the requirement of a study partner, study procedures, the ratio of drug to placebo, and study location as more important factors in the decision whether to enroll than did whites.DiscussionThese results suggest that researchers will encounter challenges in recruiting African Americans to preclinical AD trials. Future research will be necessary to understand the optimal means to improve recruitment of underrepresented populations.

INTRODUCTION Amyloid imaging is a tool that has recently become available to dementia specialists evaluating patients with possible Alzheimer’s disease. Studies have assessed the impact of amyloid imaging on diagnostic and treatment decisions, but patient and family perspectives have received less attention. METHODS To examine how amyloid imaging affects the diagnostic experience for patients and families, we interviewed members of 26 patient-caregiver dyads with whom a neurologist discussed the option of amyloid PET. RESULTS Most participants who chose to undergo amyloid imaging would choose to do so again. Regardless of the scan outcome, patients and caregivers commonly expressed relief upon learning the scan results. Some participants expressed expectations that were beyond scan capabilities. DISCUSSION Amyloid imaging may provide information that patients and their families find useful. Clinicians must set correct expectations and ensure that families understand the limitations of amyloid imaging.