alpha4beta2-nicotinic receptor binding with 5-IA in Alzheimer's disease: methods of scan analysis.

Five patients with Alzheimer's disease and five healthy volunteers were examined by SPECT with the nicotinic receptor ligand 123I-5-IA-85380. Patients were scanned before and after 6 weeks of treatment with donepezil. Quantification by regions of interest was reliable and the optimal normalisation procedure used cerebellar ratios.