If you or a loved one has experienced changes in memory or thinking, your healthcare provider may recommend an amyloid PET scan, which in combination with other tests can help them diagnose Alzheimer’s disease. Your provider will use several different tests to make their diagnosis, including an amyloid PET scan.
A PET scan is a useful test for Alzheimer’s because it can tell your healthcare provider if your brain shows any signs of amyloid plaques, which are abnormal buildups in the brain, and are commonly found in people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.
Examining your PET scan results for amyloid plaques can help your provider understand whether Alzheimer’s is a likely cause of your symptoms, or whether the cause may be something else.
In this article, we’ll look at what amyloid plaques are, why your provider ordered a PET scan, how an amyloid PET scan helps diagnose Alzheimer’s disease, and how to understand your results.
What are amyloid plaques? How are they linked to Alzheimer’s symptoms?
While it’s normal to have some changes in the brain as we age, amyloid plaques are one of the signs that Alzheimer’s may be present. These buildups can interfere with how your brain works, and over time, they can lead to problems with memory, confusion, and other thinking skills that are often seen in Alzheimer’s. Finding amyloid plaques in the brain can help explain the changes you or your loved one may be experiencing, like memory loss or difficulty concentrating.
Why is detecting amyloid plaques in the brain important for diagnosing Alzheimer’s?
Detecting amyloid plaques is important because it helps your doctor figure out whether Alzheimer’s might be causing your symptoms. An amyloid PET scan can show whether these plaques are present in your brain. But if your amyloid PET scan doesn’t show any plaques, then there may be another cause for your symptoms, which your provider will explore.
How an amyloid PET scan can help diagnose Alzheimer’s disease
An amyloid PET scan focuses on detecting amyloid plaques, a key feature linked to Alzheimer’s, and can play an important role in your provider’s diagnostic process. The results from this scan can give your provider clearer insights into what’s happening in your brain, and whether Alzheimer’s is a possible cause of your symptoms, or if something else is causing your symptoms.
How will my provider use my amyloid PET scan results to assess the likelihood of Alzheimer’s disease?
Amyloid plaques are common in people with Alzheimer’s disease, but they can also appear in the brains of older adults without any cognitive problems. Your healthcare provider will use your scan results in combination with other cognitive tests to confirm the presence of Alzheimer’s disease.
Your provider will look at your amyloid PET scan results to understand whether amyloid plaques are present, and how many of them there are. If a substantial amount of amyloid is detected, your provider will factor this into your overall evaluation for Alzheimer’s, alongside other information like your medical history, your symptoms, and the results from cognitive tests.
What can my PET scan results tell my provider about amyloid plaques?
Your PET results can reveal not only whether there is amyloid plaque buildup in your brain, but also where the buildup is located. This information is key because the pattern and distribution of these plaques can offer important insights into which parts of your brain may be affected by changes. To better understand the role amyloid plaques may play in your condition, your provider will want to see how your PET results compare with your cognitive evaluations, as well as with other diagnostic tests.
How does an amyloid PET scan help differentiate Alzheimer’s from other types of dementia?
Not all dementias involve amyloid plaques, so the scan can be useful in ruling out Alzheimer’s when plaques aren’t found. If your scan shows little or no amyloid buildup, for instance, your provider might consider other forms of dementia (like frontotemporal dementia or vascular dementia), each of which involves different brain changes.
Your PET results help to ensure that you get the most accurate diagnosis and the best available care for your specific symptoms, regardless of whether you may be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, or with another condition.
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Why your provider recommended an amyloid PET scan alongside other tests for Alzheimer’s
Alzheimer’s disease can be challenging to diagnose, and no single test can give all the information your provider needs to make a diagnosis. By combining an amyloid PET scan with other types of tests, your provider can make a more informed and accurate diagnosis, and offer you the best possible care.
How does an amyloid PET scan support other tests for helping diagnose Alzheimer’s?
Alzheimer’s disease affects the brain in different ways, so other tests are needed to paint a full picture. An amyloid PET scan adds a layer of detail that other tests can’t show, and alongside other tests, a PET scan offers you and your provider a more accurate view of your condition.
In addition to a PET scan, your provider may have recommended you take a cognitive test, which can assess your memory, attention, and problem-solving skills, and can reveal patterns of decline associated with Alzheimer’s. They may also order additional diagnostic imaging like MRI scans, as well as blood tests, all of which can help your provider to rule out other causes for your symptoms.
How can an amyloid PET scan help you get approved for monoclonal antibody therapy?
Your amyloid PET results may be necessary for you to qualify for monoclonal antibody therapy. Monoclonal antibodies are a newer treatment approach that targets amyloid plaques, potentially slowing the progression of Alzheimer’s.
However, these treatments are typically approved only for patients whose results show significant amyloid plaque buildup. If your results show clear evidence of amyloid plaques, then your provider may recommend a treatment like monoclonal antibody therapy.
Why do healthcare providers combine PET scan results with cognitive tests to make a diagnosis?
Cognitive tests help identify changes in memory, reasoning, and thinking skills. However, these tests alone can’t determine the underlying cause of those changes. That’s where your amyloid PET scan comes in.
By combining the PET scan’s results with the findings from cognitive tests, your provider can better understand what’s happening in your brain, and how it’s affecting your day-to-day life. Together, these tools give your provider a clearer, more complete picture, which can lead to a more accurate diagnosis, and stronger guidance for your treatment options.
How to understand your amyloid PET scan results
The results from your amyloid PET scan are an important part of your provider’s diagnosis, and combined with other tests for Alzheimer’s, your PET results will give your provider vital information about amyloid plaques. Let’s look at what you can expect from your PET scan results.
How long will it take to get my amyloid PET scan results?
After your amyloid PET scan, it will take about a week to receive your results, depending on how soon your healthcare provider can review your radiologist’s report. Be sure to contact your provider’s office if you have any questions about your PET results.
Once your results are ready, your provider will take the time to review the images, paying careful attention to any signs of amyloid plaques. They’ll use this information to help decide whether Alzheimer’s disease is a likely cause of your symptoms, or if further testing, and to decide your next steps.
How will my healthcare provider use my results to guide my next steps?
The presence of plaques alone doesn’t mean you’ll immediately be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Your provider will consider your amyloid PET results alongside other tests, like, MRI scans, cognitive assessments, and blood work, to create a more complete picture of your condition. Based on the results of all these tests, your provider will create a personalized care plan that addresses your specific needs, and that offers you the best path forward.
What are some good questions to ask my provider if they find amyloid plaques on my PET scan results?
Once your results are in, you’ll speak with your provider about your next steps, either over the phone or during an appointment in person. Here are some important questions to ask your healthcare provider if your PET results show the presence of amyloid plaques:
- Did you find a significant amount of amyloid plaques? In what areas of my brain did you find it?
- Does this mean I definitely have Alzheimer’s disease, or could something else be causing my symptoms?
- What other tests or assessments should we do next to confirm my diagnosis?
- How will my diagnosis affect my treatment options and my overall health?
- Are there any lifestyle changes I can make to help manage my symptoms, or to slow their progression?
These questions can help guide a productive conversation with your provider, giving you more clarity on what the results mean, and what steps you can take moving forward.
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 helps detect amyloid plaques in the brain, which are associated with Alzheimer’s disease, helping your provider to make an informed diagnosis.
Amyloid plaques interfere with brain function and are linked to memory loss, confusion, and other cognitive difficulties in Alzheimer’s disease.
Detecting amyloid plaques helps your healthcare provider determine if Alzheimer’s is causing your symptoms, or if another condition might be responsible.
Unlike CT or MRI, an amyloid PET scan detects amyloid plaques, providing information that other scans cannot offer your provider.
While amyloid plaques are common in Alzheimer’s, their presence alone doesn’t confirm the disease; your provider will combine PET results with other tests for a complete diagnosis.
If amyloid plaques are absent on a PET scan, it may suggest a different type of dementia, like frontotemporal dementia or vascular dementia.
Cognitive tests assess memory and thinking, while the amyloid PET scan provides insight into potential brain changes, offering a more accurate overall diagnosis.
It usually takes about a week for your provider to review the results from an amyloid PET scan, and then you’ll meet discuss the next steps.