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Am J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 2012;2(3):391-409
Review Article
Current neuroimaging techniques in Alzheimer's disease and applications in
animal models
Linda Zhang, Raymond Chuen-Chung Chang, Leung-Wing Chu, Henry Ka-Fung Mak
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, The University of Hong Kong, HKSAR; Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department
of Anatomy, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, HKSAR; Research Centre of Heart, Brain, Hormone and Healthy
Aging, The University of Hong Kong, HKSAR; Alzheimer’s Disease Research Network, SRT Healthy Aging, The University of Hong
Kong, HKSAR; Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University
of Hong Kong, HKSAR, China.
Received June 5, 2012; accepted July 6, 2012; Epub July 10, 2012; Published July 30, 2012
Abstract: With Alzheimer’s disease (AD) quickly becoming the most costly disease to society, and with no disease-modifying
treatment currently, prevention and early detection have become key points in AD research. Important features within this research
focus on understanding disease pathology, as well as finding biomarkers that can act as early indicators and trackers of disease
progression or potential treatment. With the advances in neuroimaging technology and the development of new imaging techniques,
the search for cheap, noninvasive, sensitive biomarkers becomes more accessible. Modern neuroimaging techniques are able to
cover most aspects of disease pathology, including visualization of senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, cortical atrophy,
neuronal loss, vascular damage, and changes in brain biochemistry. These methods can provide complementary information,
resulting in an overall picture of AD. Additionally, applying neuroimaging to animal models of AD could bring about greater
understanding in disease etiology and experimental treatments whilst remaining in vivo. In this review, we present the current
neuroimaging techniques used in AD research in both their human and animal applications, and discuss how this fits in to the
overall goal of understanding AD. (ajnmmi1206001).
Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease, animal models, ASL, biomarkers, MRI, MRS, neuroimaging, PET
Address all correspondence to:
Dr. Henry KF Mak
Department of Diagnostic Radiology
The University of Hong Kong
HKSAR, Hong Kong, China.
E-mail: makkf@hkucc.hku.hk
Review Article
Current neuroimaging techniques in Alzheimer's disease and applications in
animal models
Linda Zhang, Raymond Chuen-Chung Chang, Leung-Wing Chu, Henry Ka-Fung Mak
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, The University of Hong Kong, HKSAR; Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department
of Anatomy, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, HKSAR; Research Centre of Heart, Brain, Hormone and Healthy
Aging, The University of Hong Kong, HKSAR; Alzheimer’s Disease Research Network, SRT Healthy Aging, The University of Hong
Kong, HKSAR; Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University
of Hong Kong, HKSAR, China.
Received June 5, 2012; accepted July 6, 2012; Epub July 10, 2012; Published July 30, 2012
Abstract: With Alzheimer’s disease (AD) quickly becoming the most costly disease to society, and with no disease-modifying
treatment currently, prevention and early detection have become key points in AD research. Important features within this research
focus on understanding disease pathology, as well as finding biomarkers that can act as early indicators and trackers of disease
progression or potential treatment. With the advances in neuroimaging technology and the development of new imaging techniques,
the search for cheap, noninvasive, sensitive biomarkers becomes more accessible. Modern neuroimaging techniques are able to
cover most aspects of disease pathology, including visualization of senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, cortical atrophy,
neuronal loss, vascular damage, and changes in brain biochemistry. These methods can provide complementary information,
resulting in an overall picture of AD. Additionally, applying neuroimaging to animal models of AD could bring about greater
understanding in disease etiology and experimental treatments whilst remaining in vivo. In this review, we present the current
neuroimaging techniques used in AD research in both their human and animal applications, and discuss how this fits in to the
overall goal of understanding AD. (ajnmmi1206001).
Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease, animal models, ASL, biomarkers, MRI, MRS, neuroimaging, PET
Address all correspondence to:
Dr. Henry KF Mak
Department of Diagnostic Radiology
The University of Hong Kong
HKSAR, Hong Kong, China.
E-mail: makkf@hkucc.hku.hk
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