With so many technological advances that allow a peek inside the brain, it can be hard to keep track of the latest and greatest ways to apply imaging to the study of Alzheimer's disease. A supplement just published by the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease aims to bring the community up to speed on emerging trends in imaging techniques now used in the study of AD. Called "Imaging the Alzheimer Brain," the issue details ways people can use imaging to help understand, detect, diagnose, and track the disease.

"It brings together the latest thoughts on imaging—one of the hottest areas in Alzheimer's disease," said George Perry at the University of Texas at San Antonio, who is JAD’s editor-in-chief. "The amount of innovation in this area over the last few years is just incredible."

The supplement begins with an overview of the use of imaging for the study of Alzheimer's. Then follow 31 original articles that explore recent advances in imaging modalities, longitudinal measures for tracking AD, measuring cerebral blood flow, metabolism, amyloid plaques, and neurofibrillary tangles. For example, one article describes how diffusion tensor imaging is being used to search for new biomarkers for Alzheimer's. Another reviews current knowledge and future possibilities for using florbetaben as an Aβ-targeted PET tracer.

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