2004 New Investigator Research Grant

Beta-amyloid is a protein fragment that may be a key factor in damaging cell-to-cell communication and causing the loss of brain cells in Alzheimer’s disease. The accumulation of beta-amyloid and the associated brain changes begin long before symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease appear.

A large effort is under way to develop imaging methods that enable us to “see” amyloid in the brain. Such imaging capabilities may enable physicians and researchers to make earlier diagnoses, test new anti-amyloid therapies more efficiently, and monitor disease progression and treatment outcomes.

One promising strategy is the development of compounds that can be injected into the bloodstream, cross into the brain, attach themselves to amyloid deposits, and carry harmless radioactive “red flags” that can be detected with positron emission tomography (PET). Preliminary studies have demonstrated the potential of this method, but further studies are needed to develop a valid and reliable amyloid-imaging tool.

Nicolaas Verhoeff, M.D., Ph.D., and colleagues are testing amyloid-labeling compounds in 20 individuals with either Alzheimer’s disease or no deficits in memory and thinking skills. A particular issue they will address is the ability to distinguish between an Alzheimer brain and a healthy one. A certain amount of beta-amyloid may be normal. Therefore, the researchers want to understand “what amount is too much” when using a PET image of amyloid as an indication of disease onset or progression. They will also repeat the tests at certain intervals to assess the consistency and reliability of imaging results.