Alzheimer's imaging showdown: which tracer is better?

NCT ID NCT05361382

First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study compares two different radioactive tracers used in PET scans to measure tau tangles in the brain, a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. Researchers will scan over 800 participants with either Flortaucipir or MK-6240 to see how well they work over time. The goal is to harmonize these measurements so that future studies and clinics can use either tracer reliably.

What this could mean

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

Active substance

Flortaucipir and MK-6240 (tau PET tracers)

What this could lead to

If successful, this could help standardize Alzheimer's imaging, making it easier to compare results across different studies and improve diagnosis.

What could go wrong

This is an early-phase observational study, not a treatment trial. It may not lead to immediate clinical changes, and the tracers may not be equally effective across all patients.

Disclaimer Read more

This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Alzheimer disease tauopathy

As listed by the trial registrant

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

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Brown University

    Providence, Rhode Island, 02912, United States

  • Houston Methodist Neurological Institute

    Houston, Texas, 77030, United States

  • Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

    Berkeley, California, 94720, United States

  • Mayo Clinic

    Rochester, Minnesota, 55905, United States

  • McGill University

    Montreal, Quebec, H3A 0G4, Canada

  • Sant Pau Biomedical Research Institute

    Barcelona, Spain, 08025, Spain

  • University of California San Francisco

    San Francisco, California, 94143, United States

  • University of Pittsburgh

    Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15260, United States

  • Washington University in St. Louis

    St Louis, Missouri, 63130, United States