Pathological Mechanisms and Molecular Imaging Advances in Alzheimer’s Disease

Chang Liu,1,2,* Yuxuan Meng,2,* Rongrong Liu,2 Zhicheng Wang,2 Hongguang Zhao1 1Department of Nuclear Medicine, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, People’s Republic of China; 2National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Radiobiology, School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Zhicheng Wang National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Radiobiology, School of Public Health, Jilin University, 1163 Xinmin Street, Changchun, Jilin, 130021, People’s Republic of China, Email [email protected] Hongguang Zhao Department of Nuclear Medicine, The First Hospital of Jilin University, 71 Xinmin Street, Changchun, Jilin, 130021, People’s Republic of China, Email [email protected]: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is one of the most prevalent neurodegenerative disorders globally, where early diagnosis plays a pivotal role in delaying disease progression and improving patient outcomes. In recent years, the rapid, multidisciplinary advances in molecular imaging and emerging technologies have significantly advanced our understanding of AD pathogenesis, early diagnosis, and intervention strategies. Imaging tools such as positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), alongside emerging technologies like retinal imaging, nanosensors, and quantum dots (QDs), are continuously enhancing AD diagnostic pathways. Studies on the gut microbiome and extracellular vesicles (EVs) offer novel insights into AD pathogenesis. Furthermore, AI-driven multimodal data fusion techniques hold great promise for improving diagnostic accuracy. Future research will increasingly focus on multi-target synergistic intervention strategies, standardization of multimodal imaging, and the integration of AI with molecular diagnostics and treatment to enable early detection and personalized precision therapy for AD.Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease, molecular imaging, gut microbiome, magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography