IN VIVO MONITORING OF ß-AMYLOID PLAQUES AND NEUROFIBRILLARY TANGLES

摘要

The invention provides, methods of monitoring the density of ß-amyloid plaques and/or neurofibrillary tangles in the brain of a human or other mammal as a function of time and/or medical treatment, and includes the steps of injecting a radiolabeled compound comprising [F-18]FDDNP or a derivative thereof into the bloodstream of a living; scanning the mammal's brain using positron emission tomography quantifying radiolabeled compound binding in a reference region and in each of one or more selected regions of interest (ROI) in the brain; calculating relative radiolabeled compound binding density in each selected ROI; and (e) repeating the process one or more times. Optionally, a medical treatment is administered, and its effect on the density of ß-amyloid plaques and/or neurofibrillary tangles is measured.