Association Between Years of Education and Amyloid Burden in Patients With Subjective Cognitive Decline, MCI, and Alzheimer Disease.

OBJECTIVES: Higher-educated patients with Alzheimer disease (AD) can harbor greater neuropathologic burden than those with less education despite similar symptom severity. In this study, we assessed whether this observation is also present in potential preclinical AD stages, namely in individuals with subjective cognitive decline and clinical features increasing AD likelihood (SCD+). METHODS: Amyloid-PET information ([18F]Flutemetamol or [18F]Florbetaben) of individuals with SCD+, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and AD were retrieved from the AMYPAD-DPMS cohort, a multicenter randomized controlled study. Group classification was based on the recommendations by the SCD-I and NIA-AA working groups. Amyloid PET images were acquired within 8 months after initial screening and processed with AMYPYPE. Amyloid load was based on global Centiloid (CL) values. Educational level was indexed by formal schooling and subsequent higher education in years. Using linear regression analysis, the main effect of education on CL values was tested across the entire cohort, followed by the assessment of an education-by-diagnostic-group interaction (covariates: age, sex, and recruiting memory clinic). To account for influences of non-AD pathology and comorbidities concerning the tested amyloid-education association, we compared white matter hyperintensity (WMH) severity, cardiovascular events, depression, and anxiety history between lower-educated and higher-educated groups within each diagnostic category using the Fisher exact test or χ2 test. Education groups were defined using a median split on education (Md = 13 years) in a subsample of the initial cohort, for whom this information was available. RESULTS: Across the cohort of 212 individuals with SCD+ (M(Age) = 69.17 years, F 42.45%), 258 individuals with MCI (M(Age) = 72.93, F 43.80%), and 195 individuals with dementia (M(Age) = 74.07, F 48.72%), no main effect of education (ß = 0.52, 95% CI -0.30 to 1.58), but a significant education-by-group interaction on CL values, was found (p = 0.024) using linear regression modeling. This interaction was driven by a negative association of education and CL values in the SCD+ group (ß = -0.11, 95% CI -4.85 to -0.21) and a positive association in the MCI group (ß = 0.15, 95% CI 0.79-5.22). No education-dependent differences in terms of WMH severity and comorbidities were found in the subsample (100 cases with SCD+, 97 cases with MCI, 72 cases with dementia). DISCUSSION: Education may represent a factor oppositely modulating subjective awareness in preclinical stages and objective severity of ongoing neuropathologic processes in clinical stages.

Integrated myocardial flow reserve (iMFR) assessment: optimized PET blood flow quantification for diagnosis of coronary artery disease.

PURPOSE: Distinguishing obstructive epicardial coronary artery disease (CAD) from microvascular dysfunction and diffuse atherosclerosis would be of immense benefit clinically. However, quantitative measures of absolute myocardial blood flow (MBF) integrate the effects of focal epicardial stenosis, diffuse atherosclerosis, and microvascular dysfunction. In this study, MFR and relative perfusion quantification were combined to create integrated MFR (iMFR) which was evaluated using data from a large clinical registry and an international multi-center trial and validated against invasive coronary angiography (ICA). METHODS: This study included 1,044 clinical patients referred for 82Rb rest/stress positron emission tomography myocardial perfusion imaging and ICA, along with 231 patients from the Flurpiridaz 301 trial (clinicaltrials.gov NCT01347710). MFR and relative perfusion quantification were combined to create an iMFR map. The incremental value of iMFR was evaluated for diagnosis of obstructive stenosis, adjusted for patient demographics and pre-test probability of CAD. Models for high-risk anatomy (left main or three-vessel disease) were also constructed. RESULTS: iMFR parameters of focally impaired perfusion resulted in best fitting diagnostic models. Receiver-operating characteristic analysis showed a slight improvement compared to standard quantitative perfusion approaches (AUC 0.824 vs. 0.809). Focally impaired perfusion was also associated with high-risk CAD anatomy (OR 1.40 for extent, and OR 2.40 for decreasing mean MFR). Diffusely impaired perfusion was associated with lower likelihood of obstructive CAD, and, in the absence of transient ischemic dilation (TID), with lower likelihood of high-risk CAD anatomy. CONCLUSIONS: Focally impaired perfusion extent derived from iMFR assessment is a powerful incremental predictor of obstructive CAD while diffusely impaired perfusion extent can help rule out obstructive and high-risk CAD in the absence of TID.

Combining plasma phospho-tau and accessible measures to evaluate progression to Alzheimer's dementia in mild cognitive impairment patients.

BACKGROUND: Up to now, there are no clinically available minimally invasive biomarkers to accurately identify mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients who are at greater risk to progress to Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia. The recent advent of blood-based markers opens the door for more accessible biomarkers. We aimed to identify which combinations of AD related plasma biomarkers and other easily accessible assessments best predict progression to AD dementia in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). METHODS: We included patients with amnestic MCI (n = 110) followed prospectively over 3 years to assess clinical status. Baseline plasma biomarkers (amyloid-ß 42/40, phosphorylated tau217 [p-tau217], neurofilament light and glial fibrillary acidic protein), hippocampal volume, APOE genotype, and cognitive tests were available. Logistic regressions with conversion to amyloid-positive AD dementia within 3 years as outcome was used to evaluate the performance of different biomarkers measured at baseline, used alone or in combination. The first analyses included only the plasma biomarkers to determine the ones most related to AD dementia conversion. Second, hippocampal volume, APOE genotype and a brief cognitive composite score (mPACC) were combined with the best plasma biomarker. RESULTS: Of all plasma biomarker combinations, p-tau217 alone had the best performance for discriminating progression to AD dementia vs all other combinations (AUC 0.84, 95% CI 0.75-0.93). Next, combining p-tau217 with hippocampal volume, cognition, and APOE genotype provided the best discrimination between MCI progressors vs. non-progressors (AUC 0.89, 0.82-0.95). Across the few best models combining different markers, p-tau217 and cognition were consistently the main contributors. The most parsimonious model including p-tau217 and cognition had a similar model fit, but a slightly lower AUC (0.87, 0.79-0.95, p = 0.07). CONCLUSION: We identified that combining plasma p-tau217 and a brief cognitive composite score was strongly related to greater risk of progression to AD dementia in MCI patients, suggesting that these measures could be key components of future prognostic algorithms for early AD. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT01028053 , registered December 9, 2009.

Visual assessment of [18F]flutemetamol PET images can detect early amyloid pathology and grade its extent.

PURPOSE: To investigate the sensitivity of visual read (VR) to detect early amyloid pathology and the overall utility of regional VR. METHODS: [18F]Flutemetamol PET images of 497 subjects (ALFA+ N = 352; ADC N = 145) were included. Scans were visually assessed according to product guidelines, recording the number of positive regions (0-5) and a final negative/positive classification. Scans were quantified using the standard and regional Centiloid (CL) method. The agreement between VR-based classification and published CL-based cut-offs for early (CL = 12) and established (CL = 30) pathology was determined. An optimal CL cut-off maximizing Youden's index was derived. Global and regional CL quantification was compared to VR. Finally, 28 post-mortem cases from the [18F]flutemetamol phase III trial were included to assess the percentage agreement between VR and neuropathological classification of neuritic plaque density. RESULTS: VR showed excellent agreement against CL = 12 (κ = .89, 95.2%) and CL = 30 (κ = .88, 95.4%) cut-offs. ROC analysis resulted in an optimal CL = 17 cut-off against VR (sensitivity = 97.9%, specificity = 97.8%). Each additional positive VR region corresponded to a clear increase in global CL. Regional VR was also associated with regional CL quantification. Compared to mCERADSOT-based classification (i.e., any region mCERADSOT > 1.5), VR was in agreement in 89.3% of cases, with 13 true negatives, 12 true positives, and 3 false positives (FP). Regional sparse-to-moderate neuritic and substantial diffuse Aß plaque was observed in all FP cases. Regional VR was also associated with regional plaque density. CONCLUSION: VR is an appropriate method for assessing early amyloid pathology and that grading the extent of visual amyloid positivity could present clinical value.

Derivation and utility of an Aß-PET pathology accumulation index to estimate Aß load.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate a novel ß-amyloid (Aß)-PET-based quantitative measure (Aß accumulation index [Aß index]), including the assessment of its ability to discriminate between participants based on Aß status using visual read, CSF Aß42/Aß40, and post-mortem neuritic plaque burden as standards of truth. METHODS: One thousand one hundred twenty-one participants (with and without cognitive impairment) were scanned with Aß-PET: Swedish BioFINDER, n = 392, [18F]flutemetamol; Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI), n = 692, [18F]florbetapir; and a phase 3 end-of-life study, n = 100, [18F]flutemetamol. The relationships between Aß index and standardized uptake values ratios (SUVR) from Aß-PET were assessed. The diagnostic performances of Aß index and SUVR were compared with visual reads, CSF Aß42/Aß40, and Aß histopathology used as reference standards. RESULTS: Strong associations were observed between Aß index and SUVR (R 2: BioFINDER 0.951, ADNI 0.943, end-of-life, 0.916). Both measures performed equally well in differentiating Aß-positive from Aß-negative participants, with areas under the curve (AUCs) of 0.979 to 0.991 to detect abnormal visual reads, AUCs of 0.961 to 0.966 to detect abnormal CSF Aß42/Aß40, and AUCs of 0.820 to 0.823 to detect abnormal Aß histopathology. Both measures also showed a similar distribution across postmortem-based Aß phases (based on anti-Aß 4G8 antibodies). Compared to models using visual read alone, the addition of the Aß index resulted in a significant increase in AUC and a decrease in Akaike information criterion to detect abnormal Aß histopathology. CONCLUSION: The proposed Aß index showed a tight association to SUVR and carries an advantage over the latter in that it does not require the definition of regions of interest or the use of MRI. Aß index may thus prove simpler to implement in clinical settings and may also facilitate the comparison of findings using different Aß-PET tracers. CLASSIFICATION OF EVIDENCE: This study provides Class III evidence that the Aß accumulation index accurately differentiates Aß-positive from Aß-negative participants compared to Aß-PET visual reads, CSF Aß42/Aß40, and Aß histopathology.

Post-mortem analyses of PiB and flutemetamol in diffuse and cored amyloid-ß plaques in Alzheimer's disease.

Specificity and sensitivity of positron emission tomography (PET) radiopharmaceuticals targeting fibrillar amyloid-ß (Aß) deposits is high for detection of neuritic Aß plaques, a mature form of Aß deposits which often have dense Aß core (i.e., cored plaques). However, imaging-to-autopsy validation studies of amyloid PET radioligands have identified several false positive cases all of which had mainly diffuse Aß plaques (i.e., plaques without neuritic pathology or dense amyloid core), and high amyloid PET signal was reported in the striatum where diffuse plaques predominate in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Relative contributions of different plaque types to amyloid PET signal is unclear, particularly in neocortical areas where they are intermixed in AD. In vitro binding assay and autoradiography were performed using [3H]flutemetamol and [3H]Pittsburgh Compound-B (PiB) in frozen brain homogenates from 30 autopsy cases including sporadic AD and non-AD controls with a range of brain Aß burden and plaque density. Fixed tissue sections of frontal cortex and caudate from 10 of the AD cases were processed for microscopy using fluorescent derivatives of flutemetamol (cyano-flutemetamol) and PiB (cyano-PiB) and compared to Aß immunohistochemistry and pan-amyloid (X-34) histology. Using epifluorescence microscopy, percent area coverage and fluorescence output values of cyano-PiB- and cyano-flutemetamol-labeled plaques in two-dimensional microscopic fields were then calculated and combined to obtain integrated density measurements. Using confocal microscopy, we analysed total fluorescence output of the entire three-dimensional volume of individual cored plaques and diffuse plaques labeled with cyano-flutemetamol or cyano-PiB. [3H]Flutemetamol and [3H]PiB binding values in tissue homogenates correlated strongly and their binding pattern in tissue sections, as seen on autoradiograms, overlapped the pattern of Aß-immunoreactive plaques on directly adjacent sections. Cyano-flutemetamol and cyano-PiB fluorescence was prominent in cored plaques and less so in diffuse plaques. Across brain regions and cases, percent area coverage of cyano-flutemetamol-labeled plaques correlated strongly with cyano-PiB-labeled and Aß-immunoreactive plaques. For both ligands, plaque burden, calculated as percent area coverage of all Aß plaque types, was similar in frontal cortex and caudate regions, while integrated density values were significantly greater in frontal cortex, which contained both cored plaques and diffuse plaques, compared to the caudate, which contained only diffuse plaques. Three-dimensional analysis of individual plaques labeled with either ligand showed that total fluorescence output of a single cored plaque was equivalent to total fluorescence output of approximately three diffuse plaques of similar volume. Our results indicate that [18F]flutemetamol and [11C]PiB PET signal is influenced by both diffuse plaques and cored plaques, and therefore is likely a function of plaque size and density of Aß fibrils in plaques. Brain areas with large volumes/frequencies of diffuse plaques could yield [18F]flutemetamol and [11C]PiB PET retention levels comparable to brain regions with a lower volume/frequency of cored plaques.

Centiloid scaling for quantification of brain amyloid with [18F]flutemetamol using multiple processing methods.

INTRODUCTION: A standardised method for quantifying ß-amyloid PET tracers would allow comparison across different tracers and different sites. The development of the Centiloid scale has aimed to achieve this, applying a common scale to better aid the diagnosis and prognosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and to monitor anti-amyloid therapeutic interventions. Here, we apply the Centiloid method to [18F]flutemetamol and [11C]PiB (PiB, Pittsburgh compound B) PET images and derive the scaling factor to express their binding in Centiloids. METHODS: Paired PiB and [18F]flutemetamol scans for 74 subjects, including 24 young healthy controls (37 ± 5 years), were analysed using the standard Centiloid method. The same subjects were also analysed using PMOD- and FSL-based pipelines as well as SPM8. Test-retest analysis of 10 AD subjects was also performed with each pipeline. RESULTS: The standard uptake value ratios (SUVR), determined using the standard SPM8 Centiloid process, showed a strong correlation between [18F]flutemetamol (Flute) and PiB binding (SUVR-Flute = 0.77 × SUVR-PiB + 0.22, R2 = 0.96). Application of the standard Centiloid process allowed the calculation of a direct conversion equation for SUVR-Flute to Centiloid units (CL) (CL = (121.42*SUVR-Flute) - 121.16). Analysis of the data via the two alternate Centiloid pipelines allowed us to derive standardised, SPM8-equivalent equations for both PMOD (CL = (115.24*SUVR-Flute) - 107.86) and FSL (CL = (120.32*SUVR-Flute) - 112.75) respectively. Test-retest analysis of 10 AD subjects showed an approximate 2% difference for each pipeline. CONCLUSIONS: [18F]flutemetamol data can now be expressed in Centiloid units, enhancing its utility in clinical and research applications for ß-amyloid imaging. The standard Centiloid method also demonstrates that [18F]flutemetamol has favourable performance compared with PiB and other ß-amyloid tracers. Test-retest difference averaged 2%, with no difference between image processing pipelines. Centiloid scaling is robust and can be implemented on a number of platforms.

Use of Flutemetamol F 18-Labeled Positron Emission Tomography and Other Biomarkers to Assess Risk of Clinical Progression in Patients With Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment.

Importance: Patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) may progress to clinical Alzheimer disease (AD), remain stable, or revert to normal. Earlier progression to AD among patients who were ß-amyloid positive vs those who were ß-amyloid negative has been previously observed. Current research now accepts that a combination of biomarkers could provide greater refinement in the assessment of risk for clinical progression. Objective: To evaluate the ability of flutemetamol F 18 and other biomarkers to assess the risk of progression from aMCI to probable AD. Design, Setting, and Participants: In this multicenter cohort study, from November 11, 2009, to January 16, 2014, patients with aMCI underwent positron emission tomography (PET) at baseline followed by local clinical assessments every 6 months for up to 3 years. Patients with aMCI (365 screened; 232 were eligible) were recruited from 28 clinical centers in Europe and the United States. Physicians remained strictly blinded to the results of PET, and the standard of truth was an independent clinical adjudication committee that confirmed or refuted local assessments. Flutemetamol F 18-labeled PET scans were read centrally as either negative or positive by 5 blinded readers with no knowledge of clinical status. Statistical analysis was conducted from February 19, 2014, to January 26, 2018. Interventions: Flutemetamol F 18-labeled PET at baseline followed by up to 6 clinical visits every 6 months, as well as magnetic resonance imaging and multiple cognitive measures. Main Outcomes and Measures: Time from PET to probable AD or last follow-up was plotted as a Kaplan-Meier survival curve; PET scan results, age, hippocampal volume, and aMCI stage were entered into Cox proportional hazards logistic regression analyses to identify variables associated with progression to probable AD. Results: Of 232 patients with aMCI (118 women and 114 men; mean [SD] age, 71.1 [8.6] years), 98 (42.2%) had positive results detected on PET scan. By 36 months, the rates of progression to probable AD were 36.2% overall (81 of 224 patients), 53.6% (52 of 97) for patients with positive results detected on PET scan, and 22.8% (29 of 127) for patients with negative results detected on PET scan. Hazard ratios for association with progression were 2.51 (95% CI, 1.57-3.99; P < .001) for a positive ß-amyloid scan alone (primary outcome measure), 5.60 (95% CI, 3.14-9.98; P < .001) with additional low hippocampal volume, and 8.45 (95% CI, 4.40-16.24; P < .001) when poorer cognitive status was added to the model. Conclusions and Relevance: A combination of positive results of flutemetamol F 18-labeled PET, low hippocampal volume, and cognitive status corresponded with a high probability of risk of progression from aMCI to probable AD within 36 months.

Validation of prognostic biomarker scores for predicting progression of dementia in patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to develop and validate a practical computerized prognostic model that uses baseline psychometric and imaging data, including results of PET imaging of amyloid deposition, to predict the progression to dementia in patients at risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data from patients in a phase II trial of [F]flutemetamol for PET imaging of brain amyloid and from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative were used to train the prognostic model to yield a disease state index (DSI), a measure of the similarity of an individual patient's data to data from patients in specific diagnostic groups. Inputs to the model included amyloid PET results, MRI measurements of hippocampal volume, and the results of psychometric tests. The model was subsequently validated by using data from a prospective study of an independent cohort of patients with mild cognitive impairment. RESULTS: In total, data from 223 patients of the 233 enroled were suitable for analysis. The DSI predicted by the model and the risk of progression to AD dementia within 3 years were higher for patients with amyloid deposition and neurodegeneration than for patients with amyloid deposition without neurodegeneration. Rates of non-AD dementia among patients with neurodegeneration at baseline were consistent with the results of other studies. The results were consistent with the Jack model of AD progression. CONCLUSION: The DSI from the model that included psychometric, MRI, and PET amyloid data provides useful prognostic information in cases of mild cognitive impairment.

Performance of [18F]flutemetamol amyloid imaging against the neuritic plaque component of CERAD and the current (2012) NIA-AA recommendations for the neuropathologic diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease.

INTRODUCTION: Performance of the amyloid tracer [18F]flutemetamol was evaluated against three pathology standard of truth (SoT) measures including neuritic plaques (CERAD "original" and "modified" and the amyloid component of the 2012 NIA-AA guidelines). METHODS: After [18F]flutemetamol imaging, 106 end-of-life patients who died underwent postmortem brain examination for amyloid plaque load. Blinded positron emission tomography scan interpretations by five independent electronically trained readers were compared with pathology measures. RESULTS: By SoT, sensitivity and specificity of majority image interpretations were, respectively, 91.9% and 87.5% with "original CERAD," 90.8% and 90.0% with "modified CERAD," and 85.7% and 100% with the 2012 NIA-AA criteria. DISCUSSION: The high accuracy of either CERAD criteria suggests that [18F]flutemetamol predominantly reflects neuritic amyloid plaque density. However, the use of CERAD criteria as the SoT can result in some false-positive results because of the presence of diffuse plaques, which are accounted for when the positron emission tomography read is compared with the 2012 NIA-AA criteria.

Validation of an electronic image reader training programme for interpretation of [18F]flutemetamol ß-amyloid PET brain images.

OBJECTIVES: An electronic training programme (ETP) was developed for interpretation of images during routine clinical use of the PET amyloid imaging agent [F]flutemetamol injection (VIZAMYL). This study was carried out to validate the ETP. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five nuclear medicine technologists (NMTs) and five readers previously inexperienced in amyloid image interpretation were required to self-train using the ETP and pass a test to participate. A total of 305 [F]flutemetamol PET images were then tested as the validation set, following preassessment and reorientation (where required) by one of five NMTs. Next, a new set of readers blinded to clinical information independently assessed all 305 images. Images had been acquired in previous studies from patients representing the full spectrum of cognitive capacity. When available, a standard of truth determined by histopathology or clinical history was used to derive sensitivity and specificity for image interpretation from this validation set. Randomly selected images (n=29) were read in duplicate to measure intrareader reproducibility. Images were read first without, and subsequently with anatomic images, if available. RESULTS: All NMTs and all readers scored 100% on the qualifying test. The interpretation of 135 cases without anatomic image support resulted in sensitivity ranging from 84% to 94% (majority 94%, median 92%) and specificity ranging from 77% to 96% (majority 92%, median 81%). Inter-reader agreement was very high, with most κ scores more than 0.8. Intrareader reproducibility ranged from 93 to 100%. CONCLUSION: The self-guided ETP effectively trained new amyloid PET image readers to accurately and reproducibly interpret [F]flutemetamol PET images.

Gait event detection in laboratory and real life settings: Accuracy of ankle and waist sensor based methods.

Wearable sensors technology based on inertial measurement units (IMUs) is leading the transition from laboratory-based gait analysis, to daily life gait monitoring. However, the validity of IMU-based methods for the detection of gait events has only been tested in laboratory settings, which may not reproduce real life walking patterns. The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of two algorithms for the detection of gait events and temporal parameters during free-living walking, one based on two shank-worn inertial sensors, and the other based on one waist-worn sensor. The algorithms were applied to gait data of ten healthy subjects walking both indoor and outdoor, and completing protocols that entailed both straight supervised and free walking in an urban environment. The values obtained from the inertial sensors were compared to pressure insoles data. The shank-based method showed very accurate initial contact, stride time and step time estimation (<14ms error). Accuracy of final contact timings and stance time was lower (28-51ms error range). The error of temporal parameter variability estimates was in the range 0.09-0.89%. The waist method failed to detect about 1% of the total steps and performed worse than the shank method, but the temporal parameter estimation was still satisfactory. Both methods showed negligible differences in their accuracy when the different experimental conditions were compared, which suggests their applicability in the analysis of free-living gait.

Phase 3 trial of flutemetamol labeled with radioactive fluorine 18 imaging and neuritic plaque density.

IMPORTANCE: In vivo imaging of brain ß-amyloid, a hallmark of Alzheimer disease, may assist in the clinical assessment of suspected Alzheimer disease. OBJECTIVE: To determine the sensitivity and specificity of positron emission tomography imaging with flutemetamol injection labeled with radioactive fluorine 18 to detect ß-amyloid in the brain using neuropathologically determined neuritic plaque levels as the standard of truth. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Open-label multicenter imaging study that took place at dementia clinics, memory centers, and hospice centers in the United States and England from June 22, 2010, to November 23, 2011. Participants included terminally ill patients who were 55 years or older with a life expectancy of less than 1 year. INTERVENTIONS: Flutemetamol injection labeled with radioactive fluorine 18 (Vizamyl; GE Healthcare) administration followed by positron emission tomography imaging and subsequent brain donation. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Sensitivity and specificity of flutemetamol injection labeled with radioactive fluorine 18 positron emission tomography imaging for brain ß-amyloid. Images were reviewed without and with computed tomography scans and classified as positive or negative for ß-amyloid by 5 readers who were blind to patient information. In patients who died, neuropathologically determined neuritic plaque levels were used to confirm scan interpretations and determine sensitivity and specificity. RESULTS: Of 176 patients with evaluable images, 68 patients (38%) died during the study, were autopsied, and had neuritic plaque levels determined; 25 brains (37%) were ß-amyloid negative; and 43 brains (63%) were ß-amyloid positive. Imaging was performed a mean of 3.5 months (range, 0 to 13 months) before death. Sensitivity without computed tomography was 81% to 93% (median, 88%). Median specificity was 88%, with 4 of 5 of the readers having specificity greater than 80%. When scans were interpreted with computed tomography images, sensitivity and specificity improved for most readers but the differences were not significant. The area under the receiver operating curve was 0.90. There were no clinically meaningful findings in safety parameters. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: This study showed that flutemetamol injection labeled with radioactive fluorine 18 was safe and had high sensitivity and specificity in an end-of-life population. In vivo detection of brain ß-amyloid plaque density may increase diagnostic accuracy in cognitively impaired patients.