Could a fatty liver fuel Alzheimer's? new scan aims to find out

NCT ID NCT06453915

Recruiting now Knowledge-focused Sponsor: University of California, Davis Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This early-phase study tests a new way to use PET scans to measure inflammation in both the liver and brain at the same time. Researchers will scan 12 adults with fatty liver disease using two different tracers (18F-FDG and 18F-DPA-714) to see if the new method can reliably detect brain inflammation linked to liver disease. The goal is to develop a practical imaging tool to study how liver inflammation might contribute to Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: 18F-FDG and 18F-DPA-714 (imaging tracers)
What this could lead to: If successful, this imaging method could help researchers study how liver inflammation affects brain health, potentially pointing toward new ways to prevent or treat Alzheimer's disease.
What could go wrong: This is a very small, early-phase study focused on developing a measurement tool, not a treatment. The method may not prove reliable or useful in larger, more diverse populations.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

POSITRON EMISSION TOMOGRAPHY

Contacts and locations

Locations

UC Davis EXPLORER Molecular Imaging Center
RECRUITING

Sacramento, California, 95816, United States

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