What is an Amyvid PET Scan?

An Amyvid PET scan is a specialized imaging test that helps detect signs of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. It uses a small dose of a radioactive tracer called Amyvid (florbetapir F-18) to highlight abnormal protein deposits, known as beta-amyloid plaques, in the brain. These plaques are associated with Alzheimer’s disease, but they may also appear in other conditions.

Why is an Amyvid PET Scan Important?

Early detection of amyloid plaques can provide valuable information for:

• Diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease or ruling it out.
• Differentiating between types of dementia.
• Helping doctors create personalized treatment plans.
• Offering patients and families clarity about their condition.

This scan is not a stand-alone diagnostic tool but works alongside clinical evaluations, memory tests, and other imaging studies like MRI or CT scans.

What Happens During the Procedure?

• Preparation: You may need to avoid food and caffeine for a few hours before the scan. Inform your healthcare team about any medications or allergies.
• Injection of the Tracer: A small amount of Amyvid is injected into your vein. The tracer takes about 30–50 minutes to travel to your brain and bind to amyloid plaques.
• Imaging: You’ll lie still on a table as the PET scanner takes detailed images of your brain. The scan itself usually lasts about 10–20 minutes

Is the Procedure Safe?

Yes, an Amyvid PET scan is generally safe. The amount of radiation is minimal and comparable to other imaging tests like CT scans. Most people experience no side effects, though some might feel minor discomfort at the injection site.

Amyvid PET Results

During your follow-up appointment, your doctor will review your Amyvid PET scan along with results from other tests to figure out whether your cognitive impairment may be due to AD or something else.

A negative scan

An Amyvid scan that shows few or no plaques in the brain is called a negative scan. This means that AD is probably not the cause of the person’s thinking or memory problems. This is only true as of the time of the scan.

A positive scan

An Amyvid scan that shows a similar amount of plaque as scans from people with AD is called a positive scan. People with other conditions that cause thinking or memory problems as well as older people with normal thinking or memory can also have that amount of plaque in their brain.

Doctors use Amyvid in combination with other tests. A positive Amyvid scan does not mean you definitely have AD or another thinking or memory disorder. Amyvid should not be used to predict dementia or other brain conditions. It also should not be used to track whether a treatment is working.