Citations 1
Abnormal amyloid PET usually represents intermediate/high Alzheimer's disease neuropathologic change
Burkett, Brian J. , Wiste, Heather J. , Johnson, D H, Boeve, Bradley F., Kantarci, Kejal, Petersen, Ronald C., Knopman, David S., Vemuri, Prashanthi, Graff‐Radford, Jonathan, Lowe, Val, Cogswell, Petrice M., Pillai, Jay, Schwarz, Christopher G., Murray, Melissa E., Dickson, Dennis W., Jack, Clifford R., Pillai, Jay J. , Burkett, Brian , Pillai, Jay J , Boeve, Bradley F. , Kantarci, Kejal , Petersen, Ronald C. , Knopman, David S. , Vemuri, Prashanthi , Graff‐Radford, Jonathan , Lowe, Val J. , Cogswell, Petrice M. , Schwarz, Christopher G. , Nguyen, Aivi T. , Murray, Melissa E. , Dickson, Dennis W. , Jack, Clifford R.
Alzheimer's & Dementia | May 7, 2026 | Volume: 22 | Issue: 5 | Pages: No page available
Abstract INTRODUCTION Alzheimer's disease neuropathologic change (ADNC) classification identifies not/low and intermediate/high levels of neuropathology. Our goal was to assess how frequently a positive amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) scan indicates not/low ADNC and whether this autopsy finding can occur >10 years after a positive amyloid PET. METHODS Participants with positive amyloid PET scans were categorized by levels of ADNC at autopsy, grouped by time from initial positive amyloid PET to time of death (<5 years, 5 to <10 years, or 10+ years). RESULTS Among those with a positive amyloid PET scan, the majority had intermediate/high ADNC at autopsy (234/259, 90%). In the group with 10+ years between a positive amyloid PET and death ( n = 39) not/low ADNC occurred in 3/39 (8%). DISCUSSION Not/low ADNC is uncommon among those with positive amyloid PET scans. After 10+ years, it is possible but rare for a positive amyloid PET scan to represent an indolent state of neuropathology.