None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
Alzheimer's disease is associated with inflammation in the brain, but inflammation elsewhere in the body may also contribute to the disease. This study aims to determine whether inflammation in the thoracic aorta is associated with changes in brain glucose metabolism in people undergoing clinically indicated FDG PET/CT for suspected Alzheimer's disease. Participants will undergo analysis of their clinically acquired brain and thoracic PET/CT images, together with cognitive assessments and clinical information. The study will investigate whether greater aortic inflammation is associated with more severe brain changes and cognitive impairment. The findings may improve understanding of the relationship between vascular inflammation and Alzheimer's disease and help identify new imaging biomarkers.
Interventions
Participants referred for clinically indicated brain 18F-FDG PET/CT for suspected Alzheimer's disease will undergo an additional low-dose thoracic PET/CT acquisition during the same imaging session, without additional administration of 18F-FDG. The routine brain PET/CT acquisition is approximately 20 minutes, followed by an additional low-dose thoracic PET/CT acquisition of approximately 5–10 minutes, resulting in a total PET/CT imaging time of approximately 25–30 minutes. Thoracic aortic FDG up
Participants referred for clinically indicated brain 18F-FDG PET/CT for suspected Alzheimer's disease will undergo an additional low-dose thoracic PET/CT acquisition during the same imaging session, without additional administration of 18F-FDG. The routine brain PET/CT acquisition is approximately 20 minutes, followed by an additional low-dose thoracic PET/CT acquisition of approximately 5–10 minutes, resulting in a total PET/CT imaging time of approximately 25–30 minutes. Thoracic aortic FDG uptake will be quantified and correlated with cerebral FDG PET metabolic patterns, cognitive assessment (MMSE and/or MoCA), and clinical diagnosis. No experimental treatment or change to routine clinical management will occur as part of the study.
Sponsors
The University of Western Australia
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
50 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
Adults aged 50 years or older with suspected Alzheimer's disease referred for clinically indicated FDG PET/CT brain imaging, able and willing to provide written informed consent, MMSE greater than or equal to 21 (or equivalent), able to tolerate PET/CT imaging, and willing to undergo an additional research thoracic FDG PET/low-dose CT acquisition.
Exclusion criteria
Prior diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia, vascular dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies, or other non-Alzheimer neurodegenerative disorders; history of stroke, transient ischaemic attack, or significant structural brain pathology; severe cognitive impairment preventing consent; active malignancy or other condition causing increased systemic FDG uptake; poorly controlled diabetes (blood glucose >11 mmol/L at the time of scan); contraindication to FDG PET/CT (including pregnancy or inability to lie supine); participation in another interventional study affecting PET outcomes; or previous FDG PET/CT for cognitive impairment within the past 12 months.
Outcome results
None listed