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

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.