Neuroimaging in Dementia Research FAQs
Understanding the imaging procedures used in dementia research can help participants feel more informed and comfortable during their study visits. This FAQ provides clear, patient-friendly explanations of the MRI and PET scans used in the Cleveland Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (CADRC) studies, including what to expect, how to prepare, potential risks, and how these scans contribute to advancing Alzheimer’s and dementia research. If you or a loved one is considering participating in a research study, the information below can help guide you through the process.
Neuroimaging in Dementia Research FAQs
Understanding the imaging procedures used in dementia research can help participants feel more informed and comfortable during their study visits. This FAQ provides clear, patient-friendly explanations of the MRI and PET scans used in the Cleveland Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (CADRC) studies, including what to expect, how to prepare, potential risks, and how these scans contribute to advancing Alzheimer’s and dementia research. If you or a loved one is considering participating in a research study, the information below can help guide you through the process.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) FAQs
MRI provides researchers with valuable information about:
- Age-related or disease-related brain volume loss
- Blood flow abnormalities
- Connections or network interruptions
- Structural and functional changes that may relate to dementia
For a brain MRI, you will be asked to change into a hospital gown to ensure no ferromagnetic (metal) materials go into the scanner, as these can be dangerous near strong magnets. The MRI technologist will help guide you through this process.
You will lie on a table that moves into a long tube, and the scan typically takes about 30 minutes. The machine makes loud tapping or buzzing sounds as it captures images.
No special preparation is needed unless you experience claustrophobia. If you do, speak with your clinician or study coordinator about strategies or medications that may help.
MRI is a non-invasive imaging technique that uses magnetic fields and radiofrequency waves to create detailed pictures of soft tissues in the body. Unlike CT scans or X-rays, MRI does not use ionizing radiation, so there is no radiation exposure risk.
The MRI itself is painless. In some cases, a contrast agent may be injected to enhance certain brain structures. If this happens, you may feel brief discomfort or experience minor bruising at the injection site.
Yes. The Cleveland Clinic Center for Brain Health has a practice MRI scanner with no magnetic field that individuals can use to assess comfort and claustrophobia.
If you are being scanned at a different site, ask the study team whether a practice MRI is available.
MRI uses no ionizing radiation, so there is no radiation exposure risk. The primary safety consideration is removing all metal objects before entering the scanner.
No. MRI scans performed as part of the CADRC research studies are fully covered by a grant from the National Institutes of Health. There is no cost to participants.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) FAQs
MRI provides researchers with valuable information about:
- Age-related or disease-related brain volume loss
- Blood flow abnormalities
- Connections or network interruptions
- Structural and functional changes that may relate to dementia
For a brain MRI, you will be asked to change into a hospital gown to ensure no ferromagnetic (metal) materials go into the scanner, as these can be dangerous near strong magnets. The MRI technologist will help guide you through this process.
You will lie on a table that moves into a long tube, and the scan typically takes about 30 minutes. The machine makes loud tapping or buzzing sounds as it captures images.
No special preparation is needed unless you experience claustrophobia. If you do, speak with your clinician or study coordinator about strategies or medications that may help.
MRI is a non-invasive imaging technique that uses magnetic fields and radiofrequency waves to create detailed pictures of soft tissues in the body. Unlike CT scans or X-rays, MRI does not use ionizing radiation, so there is no radiation exposure risk.
The MRI itself is painless. In some cases, a contrast agent may be injected to enhance certain brain structures. If this happens, you may feel brief discomfort or experience minor bruising at the injection site.
Yes. The Cleveland Clinic Center for Brain Health has a practice MRI scanner with no magnetic field that individuals can use to assess comfort and claustrophobia.
If you are being scanned at a different site, ask the study team whether a practice MRI is available.
MRI uses no ionizing radiation, so there is no radiation exposure risk. The primary safety consideration is removing all metal objects before entering the scanner.
No. MRI scans performed as part of the CADRC research studies are fully covered by a grant from the National Institutes of Health. There is no cost to participants.
Positron Emission Tomography (PET) FAQs
No. PET scans in the CADRC research program are fully funded by the National Institutes of Health, and there is no cost to participants.
The PET/CT scan involves small amounts of radiation from both the tracer and CT scan. The total radiation exposure is similar to many common diagnostic imaging tests.
The IV insertion may cause brief discomfort or bruising.
The PET scanner opening is wider than an MRI — about 28 to 31 inches — and claustrophobia is uncommon.
There are no loud MRI-like noises; you may hear mild buzzing or motor sounds during the CT portion.
The tracer used in research PET scans decays rapidly, with a half-life under two hours.
After 24 hours, radiation levels are lower than normal background environmental radiation and are no longer detectable.
Positron Emission Tomography (PET) uses a very small amount of radioactive tracer — a substance that interacts with specific tissues or proteins — which is detected by the scanner to create images.
PET scans are typically paired with a low-dose CT scan to improve accuracy. The CT portion is not a diagnostic-quality scan.
The entire visit lasts about 90 minutes.
- A small IV line is placed in the forearm.
- The tracer is injected over about 10 minutes.
- You rest comfortably for ~40 minutes while the tracer distributes.
- A quick positioning scan and CT scan are performed (each only a few seconds).
- The PET scan itself takes about 20 minutes.
Allergic reactions to PET tracers are very rare, and the amount of tracer injected is extremely small.
The CT scan performed during PET/CT does not use contrast dye, so there is no risk of contrast-related reactions.
No special preparation or diet is required for an amyloid PET scan used in research.
(Some other types of PET scans do require preparation, but Alzheimer’s-related PET scans do not.)
PET allows researchers to see molecular changes in the brain that may appear long before structural changes show up on MRI.
For Alzheimer’s research, an amyloid PET scan shows the amount and location of beta-amyloid protein buildup—an early marker of Alzheimer’s disease that can appear years before symptoms.
However, the presence of amyloid does not guarantee that a person will develop Alzheimer’s disease.
Positron Emission Tomography (PET) FAQs
No. PET scans in the CADRC research program are fully funded by the National Institutes of Health, and there is no cost to participants.
The PET/CT scan involves small amounts of radiation from both the tracer and CT scan. The total radiation exposure is similar to many common diagnostic imaging tests.
The IV insertion may cause brief discomfort or bruising.
The PET scanner opening is wider than an MRI — about 28 to 31 inches — and claustrophobia is uncommon.
There are no loud MRI-like noises; you may hear mild buzzing or motor sounds during the CT portion.
The tracer used in research PET scans decays rapidly, with a half-life under two hours.
After 24 hours, radiation levels are lower than normal background environmental radiation and are no longer detectable.
Positron Emission Tomography (PET) uses a very small amount of radioactive tracer — a substance that interacts with specific tissues or proteins — which is detected by the scanner to create images.
PET scans are typically paired with a low-dose CT scan to improve accuracy. The CT portion is not a diagnostic-quality scan.
The entire visit lasts about 90 minutes.
- A small IV line is placed in the forearm.
- The tracer is injected over about 10 minutes.
- You rest comfortably for ~40 minutes while the tracer distributes.
- A quick positioning scan and CT scan are performed (each only a few seconds).
- The PET scan itself takes about 20 minutes.
Allergic reactions to PET tracers are very rare, and the amount of tracer injected is extremely small.
The CT scan performed during PET/CT does not use contrast dye, so there is no risk of contrast-related reactions.
No special preparation or diet is required for an amyloid PET scan used in research.
(Some other types of PET scans do require preparation, but Alzheimer’s-related PET scans do not.)
PET allows researchers to see molecular changes in the brain that may appear long before structural changes show up on MRI.
For Alzheimer’s research, an amyloid PET scan shows the amount and location of beta-amyloid protein buildup—an early marker of Alzheimer’s disease that can appear years before symptoms.
However, the presence of amyloid does not guarantee that a person will develop Alzheimer’s disease.
