Concerns about our memory and thinking abilities are not unusual as we grow older. However, sometimes behaviors and abilities can change in more dramatic ways that can leave you feeling frightened and confused.
If you have been experiencing notable changes in memory or thinking, your healthcare provider may recommend a PET scan to help determine if you may have signs of Alzheimer’s disease.
An amyloid PET scan is helpful in narrowing down and ruling out causes of concern for brain changes, and can also help identify what the source may be.
How amyloid PET scans can help to detect Alzheimer’s disease
Although many health factors can influence brain function, dementia is considered one of the most significant conditions that can affect our memory and thinking. One advancement in recent years is the recognition of amyloid plaques in the brains of people who live with Alzheimer’s disease.
What is an amyloid PET scan? What does it measure in the brain?
An amyloid PET scan is an imaging test that measures the levels of amyloid plaques in your brain. During a PET scan, a radioactive tracer, which attaches to amyloid plaques, is given to the patient intravenously.
This tracer reveals the level of accumulation of this protein in amyloid plaques in your brain. The amount and distribution of these plaques are thought to be indicators that Alzheimer’s disease may be present, although they are not in themselves a definitive diagnosis.
How do amyloid plaques relate to Alzheimer’s disease?
Characteristics of dementia can include changes in thinking, memory, and behavior. While strong parallels exist among dementia, not all types of dementia are the same in origin or prognosis.
One distinction that is found in Alzheimer’s disease is the presence of amyloid plaque buildup in the brain. A person who demonstrates behaviors associated with dementia who also has amyloid buildup is most likely living with Alzheimer’s.
Is an amyloid PET scan an accurate test for Alzheimer’s?
An amyloid PET scan is an accurate test for detecting the location and extent of amyloid plaques in the brain. A diagnosis of Alzheimer’s would only be made in context of other supportive evidence, cognitive testing, and patient history.
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How your provider uses a PET scan along with other tests for Alzheimer’s
If your healthcare provider wants to investigate possible dementia, an amyloid PET scan can help in ruling out Alzheimer’s, if no plaques are present. Additional scans, biomarker assessments, cognitive evaluations, and health history work together to provide a clearer diagnosis. As part of this broad approach, the presence or absence of amyloid plaques is one piece of information contributing to a diagnosis.
How will my healthcare provider use my amyloid PET results to diagnose my condition?
Your amyloid PET scan results will indicate whether or not amyloid plaques are present in your brain. While these plaques are associated with Alzheimer’s disease, a diagnosis is not made on the existence of the plaques alone.
Your amyloid PET scan results, whether positive or negative, will be one piece of a more comprehensive neurological workup to help determine the cause of cognitive concerns.
Why did my provider order cognitive tests and memory tests in addition to a PET scan?
Your amyloid PET scan in and of itself does not provide a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias. While it is a valuable tool in detecting the presence of amyloid plaques, an actual diagnosis of Alzheimer’s or other dementias relies on additional medical information. The additional cognitive and memory tools are valuable pieces to help form an accurate diagnosis.
How do MRI scans and CT scans complement an amyloid PET scans for diagnosing Alzheimer’s?
While an amyloid PET scan is a highly specific tool to detect the presence, location, and extent of amyloid plaques, it does not reveal other information about the brain that may be valuable in formulating a diagnosis.
Additional neuroimaging scans, such as MRI scans, provide detailed imagery about the brain’s anatomy and health.
These scans can help identify atrophy in the brain, and can also help identify other causes of symptoms that may mimic dementia, like bleeding in the brain, or the presence of a tumor.
The combination of these imaging scans provides a more comprehensive picture of brain activity and health, allowing for a more accurate explanation of symptoms.
How amyloid PET scans help identify Alzheimer’s disease in its early stages
Identifying any dementia can be an involved process of diagnostic tools and assessments. An amyloid PET scan is one tool that can help focus a potential diagnosis by revealing the presence or absence of amyloid plaques in the brain.
Plaques can be an indicator of potential Alzheimer’s disease even before symptoms become apparent. The presence or absence of amyloid plaques in the early stages of dementia can help shape diagnosis and treatment for Alzheimer’s, or for other cognitive conditions.
How do amyloid PET scans detect changes in the brain before symptoms appear?
An amyloid PET scan can identify the presence of amyloid plaques in individuals who may not have any symptoms of dementia. This is called preclinical Alzheimer’s disease, and it can be helpful in watching for developing symptoms that may appear later, as well as consideration for early treatments that may delay the onset and severity of symptoms.
How does an amyloid PET scan help to identify mild cognitive impairment (MCI)?
Mild cognitive impairment is a noticeable change in cognitive ability that does not interfere significantly with life activities. An amyloid PET scan is helpful for individuals who have mild cognitive impairment, as it will reflect the presence or absence of amyloid plaques in the brain, which can help to guide treatment.
If no amyloid plaques are found, other causes of MCI, like vascular conditions, sleep issues, or side effects of medication, can be investigated. If amyloid plaques are found, then the likelihood of Alzheimer’s as the source of MCI increases, and your healthcare provider will help you to consider your treatment options.
How can the early detection of amyloid plaques help guide treatment and care decisions?
Early detection of amyloid plaques help your healthcare provider understand more about the causes and prognosis of cognitive changes.
If amyloid plaques are found, the likelihood of Alzheimer’s disease being present and progressing increases. Knowing this, appropriate interventions and early treatment to delay the onset of more significant symptoms can take place.
How amyloid PET scan results fit into the diagnostic process
An amyloid PET scan helps narrow the possible reasons that you may be experiencing cognitive decline. If amyloid plaques show up on your results, then the likelihood of Alzheimer’s disease increases, and your provider may order further imaging. If no plaques are found on your results, then other types of dementia or underlying conditions are likely to be present, and your provider will develop an appropriate care plan for you.
What should I expect from my amyloid PET scan results?
Your amyloid PET scan is the best tool to find out if amyloid plaques are present. The detection of these plaques can help guide interventions, treatment and care by your healthcare provider. If no amyloid plaques are found on your results, this result will also help guide your healthcare provider’s choices for intervention, treatment, and your care.
If my results show amyloid plaques in my brain, does it mean I have Alzheimer’s?
The presence of amyloid plaques is not in itself a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. If your provider finds any plaques, then additional comprehensive medical and cognitive assessments will help form an accurate diagnosis that can then be addressed with appropriate medical care and lifestyle interventions.
Early detection of amyloid plaques helps shape a possible prognosis that can only be confirmed with diagnostic tools like physical exams, cognitive assessments, and your medical history.
What are some good questions I can ask my provider about my amyloid PET results?
Waiting for your amyloid PET results can be a time of anxiety and worry. Keep in mind that regardless of the results, the amyloid PET scan is part of an overall assessment to help develop interventions and a plan of care to address your concerns.
While there may be questions specific to your situation, the most common questions people have about the results of their amyloid PET scan include the following:
- Was evidence of amyloid plaque detected on the scan? If so, does this mean I have Alzheimer’s disease?
- If no plaques are found, what are next steps for figuring out why I am having cognitive difficulties?
- What can I expect to happen next?
- Where can I get support if my cognition gets worse?
How to schedule an appointment with us
Our goal is to offer you and your healthcare provider the most informative results possible, and we make it easy for you to get an appointment.
With numerous locations across South Jersey, you’ll find us conveniently located near major highways and key bridges in the region.
We’ll ensure the entire scheduling process is as effortless as possible for you. Above all, we are here to help you.
Reach out to us at any of the following locations to book an appointment:
Learn more about the board-certified, subspecialized radiologists who read, analyze and interpret the findings here at South Jersey Radiology Associates.
Frequently Asked Questions
An amyloid PET scan is an imaging test that measures the buildup of amyloid plaques, a key marker of Alzheimer’s disease, in the brain.
Amyloid plaques are abnormal protein deposits that can disrupt brain function and are strongly associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
Amyloid PET scans are highly accurate in identifying amyloid plaques, but they are not definitive for diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease on their own.
Cognitive and memory The machine makes clanging or tapping noises, provide additional information about your brain function, helping your provider create a more complete diagnosis.
MRI and CT scans provide detailed images of brain structure, which can identify other conditions or brain changes that an amyloid PET scan alone cannot show.
Yes, an amyloid PET scan can detect amyloid plaque buildup in the brain years before noticeable symptoms develop.
No, while amyloid plaques are a hallmark of Alzheimer’s, their presence does not always mean you have or will develop the disease.
Early detection allows for timely interventions, lifestyle changes, and treatment plans that may help slow disease progression and improve your quality of life.