Radiotracers for imaging of Parkinson's disease.

Radiotracers along with single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and positron emission computed tomography (PET) instruments have led to significant advances in the knowledge of the neurobiology and pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease (PD), clinical diagnosis and patient care. Valuable information is available on both pathology and progression of the neurodegenerative disease through human brain imaging. Preliminary data from PET and SPECT studies in early PD suggests that dopamine agonists might have a slight neuroprotective effect. They also might slow down the rate of progression of the disease. This review gives an overview of the recent SPECT and PET imaging radiotracers of the dopaminergic system imaging used in order for differential diagnosis and for the determination of the progression rate of PD.