Aging and Amyloid Deposits in the Brain and Body: What to Expect from Imaging

Purpose of Review Amyloid deposition increases with age and can involve the brain and multiple body organs, causing heterogeneous clinical syndromes with diagnostic challenges. Imaging is central to the non-invasive detection of amyloid-related tissue changes, guiding subsequent laboratory testing and, when needed, biopsy. Recent Findings In the brain, amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) enables in vivo detection of β-amyloid pathology and Alzheimer’s Disease, whereas magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) remains pivotal for evaluating cerebral amyloid angiopathy, and is increasingly relevant for monitoring amyloid-related imaging abnormalities in patients treated with anti-amyloid agents. In the heart, bone-avid radiotracer scintigraphy (with single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) when available), echocardiography and cardiac MRI provide complementary information on morphology, function, and tissue characterization. Across other body organs, computed tomography (CT) and MRI findings are often nonspecific but may suggest amyloidosis in the appropriate clinical context and help target tissue sampling. Summary Recognizing imaging signatures of amyloid deposition and integrating them with clinical and laboratory data is essential for timely diagnosis and personalized management of age-related amyloid disorders.