PET imaging guides use of emerging Alzheimer's therapies
Nuclear medicine is increasingly used to detect amyloid and tau pathology in Alzheimer's disease. Amyloid PET scans can confirm whether patients are suitable for anti-amyloid antibody treatments, while tau PET scans may inform prognosis and disease monitoring. Experts will discuss routine clinical experience at the EANM 2026 congress in Vienna.
Nuclear medicine's role in Alzheimer's care is expanding beyond diagnosis. At EANM's 39th Annual Congress in Vienna, Oct. 17–21, specialists will share routine-use experiences with amyloid and tau PET, alongside other molecular imaging advances.
Amyloid PET can verify whether beta-amyloid plaques are present, helping identify patients eligible for lecanemab or donanemab. It may also reveal when amyloid falls below detectable levels, potentially allowing earlier treatment completion. Tau PET offers extra insight into progression and prognosis. Blood and cerebrospinal fluid markers remain useful but sometimes inconclusive.
People with suspected Alzheimer's and their families could gain from more precise diagnosis and treatment selection, potentially reducing uncertainty and guiding use of anti-amyloid drugs. Clinicians may use PET results to monitor response and decide when therapy can stop. Health systems could face greater demand for scanner time, tracers, and specialist interpretation, which may affect access and costs. The broader impact may depend on how routinely these tools can be integrated into care.