GUERRA U. P.

Considering the similarities with other pandemics due to respiratory virus infections and subsequent development of neurological disorders (e.g. encephalitis lethargica after the 1918 influenza), there is growing concern about a possible new wave of neurological complications following the worldwide spread of SARS-CoV-2. However, data on...

Background: 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron-emission-tomography (PET) allows detection of cerebral metabolic alterations in neurological diseases vs. normal aging. We assess age-and sex-related brain metabolic changes in healthy subjects, exploring impact of activity normalization methods. Methods: brain scans of Italian Association...

Purpose: FDG-PET is an established supportive biomarker in dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), but its diagnostic accuracy is unknown at the mild cognitive impairment (MCI-LB) stage when the typical metabolic pattern may be difficultly recognized at the individual level. Semiquantitative analysis of scans could enhance accuracy especially in less...

Purpose: To develop and validate a semi-quantification method (time-delayed ratio, TDr) applied to amyloid PET scans, based on tracer kinetics information. Methods: The TDr method requires two static scans per subject: one early (~ 0–10 min after the injection) and one late (typically 50–70 min or 90–100 min after the injection, depending on...

Background and purpose: Biomarkers support the aetiological diagnosis of neurocognitive disorders in vivo. Incomplete evidence is available to drive clinical decisions; available diagnostic algorithms are generic and not very helpful in clinical practice. The aim was to develop a biomarker-based diagnostic algorithm for mild cognitive...