- Witte, Michael M;
- Foster, Norman L;
- Fleisher, Adam S;
- Williams, Monique M;
- Quaid, Kimberly;
- Wasserman, Michael;
- Hunt, Gail;
- Roberts, J Scott;
- Rabinovici, Gil D;
- Levenson, James L;
- Hake, Ann Marie;
- Hunter, Craig A;
- Van Campen, Luann E;
- Pontecorvo, Michael J;
- Hochstetler, Helen M;
- Tabas, Linda B;
- Trzepacz, Paula T
Until recently, estimation of β-amyloid plaque density as a key element for identifying Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology as the cause of cognitive impairment was only possible at autopsy. Now with amyloid-positron emission tomography (amyloid-PET) neuroimaging, this AD hallmark can be detected antemortem. Practitioners and patients need to better understand potential diagnostic benefits and limitations of amyloid-PET and the complex practical, ethical, and social implications surrounding this new technology. To complement the practical considerations, Eli Lilly and Company sponsored a Bioethics Advisory Board to discuss ethical issues that might arise from clinical use of amyloid-PET neuroimaging with patients being evaluated for causes of cognitive decline. To best address the multifaceted issues associated with amyloid-PET neuroimaging, we recommend this technology be used only by experienced imaging and treating physicians in appropriately selected patients and only in the context of a comprehensive clinical evaluation with adequate explanations before and after the scan.