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European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging

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01-02-2020 | Alzheimer's Disease | Original Article

In vivo imaging of synaptic loss in Alzheimer’s disease with [18F]UCB-H positron emission tomography

Authors: Christine Bastin, Mohamed Ali Bahri, François Meyer, Marine Manard, Emma Delhaye, Alain Plenevaux, Guillaume Becker, Alain Seret, Christine Mella, Fabrice Giacomelli, Christian Degueldre, Evelyne Balteau, André Luxen, Eric Salmon

Published in: European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging | Issue 2/2020

Abstract

Purpose

Loss of brain synapses is an early pathological feature of Alzheimer’s disease. The current study assessed synaptic loss in vivo with positron emission tomography and an 18F-labelled radiotracer of the synaptic vesicle protein 2A, [18F]UCB-H.

Methods

Twenty-four patients with mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer’s disease and positive [18F]Flutemetamol amyloid-PET were compared to 19 healthy controls. [18F]UCB-H brain uptake was quantified with Logan graphical analysis using an image-derived blood input function. SPM12 and regions-of-interest (ROI) analyses were used for group comparisons of regional brain distribution volumes and for correlation with cognitive measures.

Results

A significant decrease of [18F]UCB-H uptake was observed in several cortical areas (11 to 18% difference) and in the thalamus (16% difference), with the largest effect size in the hippocampus (31% difference). Reduced hippocampal uptake was related to patients’ cognitive decline (ROI analysis) and unawareness of memory problems (SPM and ROI analyses).

Conclusions

The findings thus highlight predominant synaptic loss in the hippocampus, confirming previous autopsy-based studies and a recent PET study with an 11C-labelled SV2A radiotracer. [18F]UCB-H PET allows to image in vivo synaptic changes in Alzheimer’s disease and to relate them to patients’ cognitive impairment.

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Signal from the two carotids was used to increase the quality of the data, but distribution volumes obtained by considering the signal from the left and right carotid independently were highly similar (left/right ratio = 0.99 ± 0.05) and each was also highly similar to the distribution volume considering the two carotids together (left/total ratio, 0.99 ± 0.01; right/total ratio, 0.99 ± 0.04).

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Title: In vivo imaging of synaptic loss in Alzheimer’s disease with [18F]UCB-H positron emission tomography
Authors: Christine Bastin
Mohamed Ali Bahri
François Meyer
Marine Manard
Emma Delhaye
Alain Plenevaux
Guillaume Becker
Alain Seret
Christine Mella
Fabrice Giacomelli
Christian Degueldre
Evelyne Balteau
André Luxen
Eric Salmon
Publication date: 01-02-2020
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Keywords: Alzheimer's Disease
Positron Emission Tomography
Alzheimer's Disease
Mild Cognitive Impairment
Published in: European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging / Issue 2/2020
Print ISSN: 1619-7070
Electronic ISSN: 1619-7089
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00259-019-04461-x

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

In vivo imaging of synaptic loss in Alzheimer’s disease with [18F]UCB-H positron emission tomography

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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