From imaging to intervention: emerging potential of PET biomarkers to shape therapeutic strategies for TBI-induced neurodegeneration, 2025

[Mij]

Abstract

This review examines the role of positron emission tomography (PET) imaging tracers in advancing our understanding of traumatic brain injury (TBI) induced neurodegeneration and the therapeutic targets they help to identify. It focuses on tracers used to evaluate post-TBI alterations in metabolism, amyloid, tau, neuroinflammation, and neurotransmitter systems. These molecular imaging tools provide critical insights into pathophysiological processes such as disrupted glucose metabolism, amyloid deposition, tau accumulation, chronic neuroinflammatory responses, and neurotransmitter dysregulation. The review also explores how these tracers, as imaging biomarkers, may guide future therapeutic strategies.

Finally, it discusses the challenges and opportunities associated with integrating PET imaging into TBI diagnosis, longitudinal monitoring, and treatment planning.
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[Mij]

A relatively newer class of PET radiotracers:

Amyloid PET
Tau PET
Neuroinflammation PET

and

Emerging tracer PET and therapies

While the translation of PET imaging into clinical care for TBI remains aspirational, it is increasingly feasible. Tau and amyloid represent the most developed tracer-therapy pairings, with potential for relatively short-term cross-application from Alzheimer’s disease. Neuroinflammation PET may offer greater biological relevance for TBI but will require a longer path to therapeutic pairing. Across all targets, patient stratification, study design, tracer development, and confirmation of tracer specificity will be essential. Addressing these challenges through coordinated research efforts will help establish PET-guided neurotheranostics as a viable method for personalizing treatment in TBI.

 

[wigglethemouse]

It is amazing all the techniques available with PET scans. In ME/CFS researchers are still only scratching the surface. I was reading that you can even monitor blood flow in different areas of the brain. I wonder what neurotransmitter PET would show in ME/CFS?