Current Trends and Applications of PET/MRI Hybrid Imaging in Neurodegenerative Diseases and Normal Aging.

Dementia is a significant global health issue that is exacerbated by an aging population. Imaging plays an established role in the evaluation of patients with neurocognitive disorders such as dementia. In current clinical practice, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) are primary imaging modalities used separately but in concert to help diagnose and classify dementia. The clinical applications of PET/MRI hybrid imaging in dementia are an active area of research, particularly given the continued emergence of functional MRI (fMRI) and amyloid PET tracers. This narrative review provides a comprehensive overview of the rationale and current evidence for PET/MRI hybrid dementia imaging from 2018 to 2023. Hybrid imaging offers advantages in the accuracy of characterizing neurodegenerative disorders, and future research will need to address the cost of integrated PET/MRI systems compared to stand-alone scanners, the development of new biomarkers, and image correction techniques.

Familiarity and Perceptions of Aducanumab in Caregivers of Hawaii Alzheimer's Disease Patients: Results of a Telephone Survey.

AIM: To identify current perceptions of aducanumab among patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and their caregivers. METHODS: A total of 352 caregivers of AD patients seen at Hawaii's largest multidisciplinary neuroscience center between January 01, 2019, and June 21, 2021, were surveyed by telephone to understand patient and caregiver knowledge, familiarity, and hesitancy toward aducanumab. RESULTS: Thirty-seven percent of caregivers were familiar with aducanumab. Caregivers who were spouses of their respective patients with AD (p=0.0023) had increased odds of familiarity. Additional predictors of aducanumab familiarity included patients with higher mini-mental state examination scores (p=0.0076) and those who received mental stimulation (p=0.007). Conversely, caregivers who identified as native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islanders (NHPI) (p=0.044) or the patient's child (p=0.010) were predictors of decreased familiarity. Only 33% of caregivers familiar with aducanumab believed it to be safe and 56% reported "side effects" as their top concern. Thirty percent of caregivers were moderately ready or very ready to use aducanumab if given the opportunity. CONCLUSION:  Most caregivers of Hawaii AD patients were unfamiliar with aducanumab. Furthermore, those familiar were hesitant to trial the medication. Improved education and awareness of AD therapies are important, so families and caregivers of AD patients can make more informed decisions regarding AD treatment.