Experimental tau tracer detects Alzheimer's-linked changes earlier than standard PET scans

MedicalXpress | Jun 18, 2026

Alzheimer's disease is commonly known for its symptoms—memory loss, cognitive impairment, difficulty with daily tasks—but it can only be definitively diagnosed by looking at the brain. A scan must show the abnormal buildup of two distinct brain proteins, beta-amyloid and tau, and the presence of both distinguishes the disease from other forms of dementia.