Untitled

Abstract

Imaging has played a variety of roles in the study of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) over the last decades. In the beginning, computed tomography (CT) and then magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were used diagnostically rule out other causes of dementia. Currently, a variety of imaging techniques including structural and functional MRI and positron emission tomography (PET) studies of cerebral metabolism with fluoro-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) and amyloid tracers such as Pittsburgh Compound-B (PiB) showed characteristic changes in the brains of patients with MCI. None, of the imaging modality, can serve all purposes as each has unique strengths and weaknesses. The present modalities and their respective application are discussed in this article. The challenge for the future will be to combine imaging biomarkers for efficiently facilitating the diagnosis, disease staging and most importantly the development of effective disease-modifying therapies.