A pilot PET/MR study of Florbetapir F18 amyloid imaging in dementia
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A pilot PET/MR study of Florbetapir F18 amyloid imaging in dementia
IRAS ID
133238
Contact name
Jonathan Schott
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University College London
Research summary
There are numerous causes of dementia, the commonest of which are “neurodegenerative”, i.e., related to excess brain cell loss. A common feature of the neurodegenerative dementias is accumulation of abnormal proteins within the brain, the nature and distribution of which defines the different dementias. The commonest cause of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease which is associated with the deposition of two particular abnormal proteins; beta-amyloid and tau. Until very recently the only certain way to sub-divide the different causes of dementia has been to look at the brain under a microscope after death. However a recent major development has been the ability to detect the build- up of abnormal protein (amyloid) using specialist PET scans.
This is a pilot study to explore both the brain structure changes that accompany dementia and whether we can detect the accumulation of amyloid linked to Alzheimer’s disease using a new combined PET/MRI scanner (the 1st in the UK)and the tracer Florbetapir F18, in a small number of people with different forms of dementia. The purpose of the study is to get practical experience of amyloid PET imaging using the new PET/MRI scanner and to investigate its usefulness in helping differentiate between Alzheimer’s and non-Alzheimer’s dementias.
REC name
London - Queen Square Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/LO/1455
Date of REC Opinion
25 Nov 2013
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion