New Imaging Agent Being Tested for Early Detection of Alzheimer’s
Published on the July 25, 2011, DiagnosticImaging.com
By Whitney L.J. Howell
A new imaging agent currently in Phase III clinical trials could soon make it possible for more radiologists to see beta-amyloid — the brain plaque associated with suspected Alzheimer’s disease — through PET scans.
According to David Wolk, MD, University of Pittsburgh neurology professor, flutemetamol, a tracer molecule associated with the isotope Fluorin-18, brings the same benefit to real-time patient care that Pittsburgh B-Compound (PiB) can only bring to neurological investigations.
“Because of the PiB compound’s 20-minute half-life, it’s really only played an active role in research. It degrades so quickly that it’s not practical to use with patients in the real world — only tertiary care centers have the machinery to make PiB onsite,” said Wolk, who presented his research on flutemetamol in living patients at the International Conference on Alzheimer’s Disease in Paris last week.
“With a nearly two-hour half-life, you can have flutemetamol manufactured elsewhere and delivered to you for medical scans.”
To read the article in its entirety: http://www.diagnosticimaging.com/pet-mr/content/article/113619/1913011
July 25, 2011 - Posted by wjpalmer | Healthcare, Science | beta-amyloid, brain plaque, David Wolk, diagnostic scans for Alzheimer's Disease, Fluorin-18, flutemetamol, GE, identifying Alzheimer's Disease in living patients, International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease, Jonathan Allis, MI PET scans, PET scans for Alzheimer's Disease, PiB, Pittsburgh B-Compound, University of California-Berkeley Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute and School of Public Health, William Jagust
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I’m a seasoned reporter, writer, freelancer and public relations specialist with a master’s degree in international print journalism from The American University in Washington, D.C.
I launched my journalism career as a stringer for UPI on Sept. 11, 2001, on Capitol Hill. That day led to a two-year stint as a daily political reporter in Montgomery County, Md. As a staff writer for the Association of American Medical Colleges, a public relations specialist for the Duke University Medical Center and the public relations director for the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Nursing, I’ve earned in-depth experience in covering health care, including academic medicine, health care reform, women’s health, pediatrics, radiology, and Medicare.
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