Document Overview

Document Title

Use of Tau PET Imaging in Alzheimer's Disease

Authoring Societies

Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging

European Association of Nuclear Medicine

Document Publication Date

Mar 30, 2026

Page Last Reviewed/Updated

Jun 29, 2026

Document Type

Consensus Statement

Country of Publication

Global

Full Text Freely Available

Yes

Full Text Guideline

www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S3051292126001983

Source Citation

Matthias Brendel, Phillip H. Kuo, Joachim Brumberg, Vincent Doré, Alexander Drzezga, Valentina Garibotto, Antoine Leuzy, Gregory Mathoux, Philipp T. Meyer, Alexis Moscoso, Rik Ossenkoppele, Tharick Pascoal, Ruben Smith, John Seibyl, Elsmarieke van de Giessen, Donatienne Van Weehaeghe, Marie R. Vermeiren, Victor L. Villemagne, Shadi A. Esfahani, Henryk Barthel, Matthias Brendel, Diego Cecchin, Pablo Aguiar Fernandez, Eric Guedj, Nelleke Tolboom, Tatjana Traub-Weidinger, Donatienne Van Weehaeghe, Antoine Verger, Igor Yakushev, Joint EANM/SNMMI recommendations on the use of Tau PET imaging in Alzheimer's disease, The EANM Journal, Volume 3, 2026, 100214, ISSN 3051-2921, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eanmj.2026.100214.

Document Scope, Criteria, and Use Cases

Document Objectives

The purpose of these recommendations is to assist nuclear medicine practitioners in recommending, performing, interpreting, and reporting tau PET imaging of the brain (tau PET) in patients with cognitive impairment suspected of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Tau pathology represents a central hallmark of AD and an important biomarker within the biological AT(N) framework, where tau PET imaging enables in vivo assessment for diagnostic evaluation, prognosis, and patient stratification. These joint recommendations from the European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM) and the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) provide a framework to support the clinical and research use of tau PET imaging. The document covers the currently approved radiotracer [18F]flortaucipir as well as several widely used next-generation tau PET radiotracers. It provides guidance on appropriate clinical indications, patient preparation, image acquisition, visual interpretation, quantitative analysis, and standardized reporting procedures. Particular emphasis is placed on harmonized procedures for image interpretation and quantification, including the use of standardized uptake value ratios (SUVRs), appropriate reference regions, and emerging harmonization approaches that enable comparison of quantitative measures across radiotracers and imaging centers. Standardized imaging procedures are essential to ensure robust and reproducible measurements and to facilitate the integration of tau PET into clinical workflows and multicenter studies.

Scope

Assessment and Screening, Management

Diseases/Conditions (MeSH)

D000544 - Alzheimer Disease

Keywords

Alzheimer disease, Alzheimer's Disease

Inclusion Criteria

Male, Female, Adult, Older Adult

Health Care Settings

Outpatient, Radiology Services

Intended Users

Nurse, Nurse Practitioner, Physician, Physician Assistant