Soon they will be authorized in Germany: the first drugs against Alzheimer's disease that are intended to slow down the progression of the condition. On November 14, 2024, the EMA granted approval for Lecanemab in the European Union. The drugs attack so-called amyloid plaques in the brain. But how can we reliably and cost effectively diagnose the presence of amyloid plaques in patients who show up at memory clinics with slight cognitive impairment or mild dementia – that is, the target group for the drugs?

A new study by doctors at LMU University Hospital furnishes answers which could be incorporated into patient treatment. The study was initiated by Professor Matthias Brendel, Acting Director of the Department of Nuclear Medicine, Dr. Nicolai Franzmeier from the Institute for Stroke and Dementia Research, and Professor Günter Höglinger, Director of the Neurological Clinic – all three of whom are also members of the SyNergy Cluster of Excellence. Now the results of the study have been published in the journal of the Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment, & Disease Monitoring.