Center for Alzheimer's Care, Imaging & Research, Department of Neurology, 729 Arapeen Drive, Salt Lake City, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, USA

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Published Online:26 Apr 2017https://doi.org/10.2217/nmt-2016-0059

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Abstract

Aim: Amyloid positron emission tomography (aPET) measurement of Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology could improve the accurate diagnosis of cognitive disorders. Appropriate use criteria recommend that only dementia experts order aPET. Materials & methods: We surveyed 145 dementia experts about their current approaches to evaluation and treatment and the likely influence of aPET. Results: Experts expected aPET to alter diagnostic procedures and patient management and also increase diagnostic certainty. They anticipated confirming AD or altering pharmacological treatment following positive results more than excluding AD following negative results. Experts familiar with aPET reported changes that were more consistent with appropriate use criteria and published evidence. Conclusions: Knowledge about aPET strongly influenced effects on diagnostic certainty and changed clinical practice. Dementia experts may need additional training to achieve optimal benefit from aPET.

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Papers of special note have been highlighted as: • of interest; •• of considerable interest

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Published online 26 April 2017

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Financial & competing interests disclosure

Evidera received funding from Piramal Imaging Ltd. to conduct the study and develop this manuscript. Evidera provides consulting and other research services to pharmaceutical, medical device, and other organizations. In their salaried positions, ML Ganz and S Guo (current employees of Evidera) and AF Tawah and AS Chitnis (employees of Evidera at the time this research was conducted), worked with a variety of companies and were precluded from receiving payment or honoraria directly from those organizations for services rendered. A Jovalekic is an employee of Piramal Imaging. H Siliesc and B Schäuble are former employees of Piramal Imaging. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Ethical conduct of research

The authors surveyed dementia experts on their current diagnostic and treatment decisions for dementia patients, and the likely effect of amyloid positron emission tomography on their decision-making. Since no questions were asked about any one specific patient, no patient-identifiable information was shared. Thus, as the release of the obtained information would not be harmful to patients, we did not obtain IRB approval for this study.

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