Decreased in vivo availability of the cannabinoid type 2 receptor in Alzheimer's disease

The cannabinoid type 2 receptor (CB2R) is expressed by immune cells such as monocytes and macrophages. In the brain, CB2R is primarily found on microglia. CB2R upregulation has been reported in animal models of Alzheimer's disease, with a preferential localization near amyloid beta (Aβ) plaques, and in patients post mortem. We performed in vivo brain imaging and kinetic modelling of the CB2R tracer [(11)C]NE40 in healthy controls (HC) and in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) to investigate whether higher CB2R availability regionally colocalized to Aβ deposits is present in vivo.status: publishe