Brain Amyloid PET Tracer Delivery is Related to White Matter Integrity in Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Amyloid deposition, tau neurofibrillary tangles, and cerebrovascular dysfunction are important pathophysiologic features in Alzheimer's disease. Pittsburgh compound B ([ 11 C]-PIB) is a positron emission tomography (PET) radiotracer used to quantify amyloid deposition in vivo. In addition, certain models of [ 11 C]-PIB delivery reflect cerebral blood flow rather than amyloid plaques. As cerebral blood flow and perfusion deficits are associated with white matter pathology, we hypothesized that [ 11 C]-PIB delivery in white matter regions may reflect white matter integrity. METHODS: We obtained [ 11 C]-PIB-PET scans and quantified white matter hyperintensities and global fractional anisotropy on magnetic resonance images as biomarkers of white matter pathology in 34 older participants with mild cognitive impairment with or without a history of major depressive disorder. We analyzed the [ 11 C]-PIB time-activity curve data with models associated with cerebral blood flow: the early maximum standard uptake value and the relative delivery parameter R1. We used a global white matter region of interest. RESULTS:Both of the partial-volume corrected PET parameters were correlated with white matter hyperintensities and fractional anisotropy. CONCLUSION:Future studies are warranted to explore whether [ 11 C]-PIB PET is a "triple biomarker" that may provide information about amyloid deposition, cerebral blood flow, and white matter pathology.

New Insights into Brain Imaging Methods for Rehabilitation of Brain Diseases

“…Aβ deposition begins before the onset of clinical symptoms, such as cognitive decline and behavioral changes (Jack et al, 2013;Zetterberg and Blennow, 2013). Identifying and quantifying amyloid deposition in vivo is valuable in AD research, has been used in large synergistic studies, and has value in clinical settings (Brown et al, 2019). According to the 2011 recommendations of the European and US National Aging and Alzheimer's Societies to revise the diagnostic criteria for AD (Dubois et al, 2007(Dubois et al, , 2010McKhann et al, 2011), the detection of Aβ deposits at the MCI stage may provide a basis for the early diagnosis of AD and timely intervention.…”

Advances in diagnosing mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease using 11C-PIB- PET/CT and common neuropsychological tests

“…Aβ deposition begins before the onset of clinical symptoms, such as cognitive decline and behavioral changes ( Jack et al, 2013 ; Zetterberg and Blennow, 2013 ). Identifying and quantifying amyloid deposition in vivo is valuable in AD research, has been used in large synergistic studies, and has value in clinical settings ( Brown et al, 2019 ). According to the 2011 recommendations of the European and US National Aging and Alzheimer’s Societies to revise the diagnostic criteria for AD ( Dubois et al, 2007 , 2010 ; McKhann et al, 2011 ), the detection of Aβ deposits at the MCI stage may provide a basis for the early diagnosis of AD and timely intervention.…”

“…Presence of amyloid deposists can also predict eventual progression to MCI or AD in individuals with normal cognitive function. Therefore, it aids in early detection, early diagnosis, and interventions ( Jansen et al, 2015 ; Brown et al, 2019 ). To date, the pathological relevance of large-scale 11 C-PIB-PET/CT studies to detect MCI has been less explored.…”