New IDEAS Study – Update
June 2022
Dementia Practice and PET imaging facility registration is still open!
» New IDEAS is underway and enrolling patients across the U.S.
» The study is directed by the Alzheimer’s Association®, sponsored and managed by the American
College of Radiology, and advised by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
» The study is accepting applications from dementia practices and PET imaging facilities that
wish to participate.
Background: The original Imaging Dementia-Evidence for Amyloid Scanning (IDEAS) Study results are
the strongest phase four “real world” data to date supporting the clinical utility of amyloid
positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of patients being evaluated for Alzheimer’s disease
(AD). These data add to the body of literature showing that amyloid PET imaging can be a powerful
tool to improve the accuracy of AD diagnosis and lead to better patient management.
» Clinical care management: Medication use and family/caregiver counseling changed in 60.2% of
patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment and in 63.5% of patients with dementia, increasing the
likelihood of effective disease management. Further, among patients with dementia and a positive
scan, hospitalizations declined by 22% over the next year.
» Diagnosis: Physicians changed their diagnoses from AD to non-AD in 25.1% of patients and
reversed their diagnosis from non-AD to AD in 10.5% of patients when amyloid PET scan results were
known. Diagnosis changed in 35.6% of patients. For patients with positive scans, diagnosis of AD
increased from 80% to 96%. For patients with negative scans, diagnosis of AD decreased from 72% to
10%.
» Increased diagnostic confidence: Physicians reported higher confidence in their diagnoses and
less utilization of additional, alternative diagnostic testing when they could include amyloid PET
results into the clinical evaluation.
New IDEAS builds on the original IDEAS Study and will include a more ethnically and racially
diverse population, including over 50% enrollment of Black/African American and Hispanic/Latino
study participants. It is anticipated that this will allow for better understanding of the impact
of amyloid PET scans on medical management and health outcomes in underrepresented populations —
who are more vulnerable to cognitive decline and where there is currently limited information.
Join New IDEAS
Benefits to Dementia Practices and PET facilities
» Access to an important and innovative diagnostic tool for evaluating patients. Participation
in this study is currently the only way a brain amyloid PET scan is covered for Medicare
beneficiaries.
» Greater recognition as a resource in the community for people with cognitive concerns. It is
important that amyloid PET imaging be more broadly accessible to those who need it.
» Increased referrals from local physicians of patients from historically underrepresented
communities who may be more vulnerable to cognitive decline.
PET imaging facilities and dementia practices that apply for the New IDEAS Study are currently
being invited to participate on a rolling basis. If you are interested in New IDEAS, please visit
the study website and fill out the questionnaire: www.ideas-study.org/Getting-Started
Get original IDEAS Study results and more New IDEAS Study information at www.ideas-study.org