AUTHOR=Bouter Caroline , Henniges Philipp , Franke Timon N. , Irwin Caroline , Sahlmann Carsten Oliver , Sichler Marius E. , Beindorff Nicola , Bayer Thomas A. , Bouter Yvonne 

TITLE=18F-FDG-PET Detects Drastic Changes in Brain Metabolism in the Tg4–42 Model of Alzheimer’s Disease

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience

VOLUME=Volume 10 - 2018

YEAR=2019

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/aging-neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnagi.2018.00425

DOI=10.3389/fnagi.2018.00425

ISSN=1663-4365

ABSTRACT=The evaluation of new therapeutic strategies in Alzheimer’s disease relies heavily on in vivo imaging and suitable animal models that mimic the pathological changes seen in patients. 18F-FDG-PET is a well-established non-invasive imaging tool for monitoring changes in cerebral brain glucose metabolism in vivo. 18F-FDG-PET is used as a functional biomarker for Alzheimer’s disease as patients show an early and progressive reduction of cerebral glucose metabolism. However, earlier studies in preclinical models of Alzheimer’s disease showed conflicting results. The aim of this study was the evaluation of cerebral glucose metabolism in the Tg4-42 mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease using 18F-FDG-PET/MRI. Tg4-42 mice show an age-dependent reduction in glucose metabolism together with severe neuron loss and memory deficits. Similar to Alzheimer’s patients early decrease in 18F-FDG uptake was already detected in young (3 months) Tg4-42 mice. The altered glucose metabolism coupled with age- and disease related cognitive decline of Tg4-42 mice make it a well-suited model for preclinical testing of Alzheimer-relevant therapeutics.