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This essential project will evaluate the utility and impact of incorporating amyloid PET scans in diagnosing Alzeheimer’s disease. 

Research Objectives

Status

Current

Recruitment

Open

Patient Group

Alzheimer's Disease (AD)

Study location

The Wesley Hospital

Study type

Investigator Initiated

Lead investigator

  • A/Prof David Wong

Experienced investigator

  • Dr Sepinoud Firouzmand

About this research project

The prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease in Australia is predicted to double in the next 20 years. The introduction of two newly approved medications offers hope for patients and highlights the need for early and accurate diagnosis. While functional diagnostic imaging, such as FDG PET/CT scans, have provided advantages over more invasive methods, they lack efficacy in diagnosing those with atypical presentations and at earlier stages (uncertain/equivocal cases). Recently, the amyloid PET/CT scan, targeting the disease’s hallmark (amyloid β plaques) has shown promise in diagnosing uncertain cases in international studies. Therefore, the primary objective of this study is to evaluate the added value of amyloid PET scans in reaching a final diagnosis in a subgroup of cases where the final diagnosis remains uncertain following the clinical and FDG-PET assessments. Such evidence could play a fundamental role in the revision of diagnostic guidelines in Australia and consequently in changing patient management plans. 

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