The role of amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) in the early diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease: A literature review

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is becoming a global health burden, necessitating a shift in diagnostic models from traditional clinical criteria to biomarkers based on the ATN classification system. This review aims to synthesize scientific evidence regarding the role of amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) in the early diagnosis and management of AD. Amyloid-PET enables the quantification of amyloid-beta (Aβ) plaque deposition in the living brain — a biological process that begins 15-20 years before symptom onset. The article reviews the development from the first-generation compound 11C-PiB to 18F-labeled radiotracers (Florbetapir, Flutemetamol, Florbetaben), which have made this technique feasible in routine clinical practice. Notably, amyloid-PET serves as an indispensable “gold standard” for patient selection and monitoring the plaque-clearing efficacy of novel immunotherapies such as Lecanemab and Donanemab. Finally, the paper discusses challenges in Vietnam and proposes a multimodal coordination model, utilizing blood-based biomarkers for screening followed by amyloid-PET for confirmation, to optimize costs and enhance diagnostic efficiency within the local context.