Developing a Novel Alpha‐synuclein Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Tracer for the Diagnosis of Synucleinopathies

The progressive accumulation of aggregated alpha‐synuclein (a‐syn) in the form of Lewy bodies and neurites is the hallmark of e.g. Parkinson’s disease (PD). Due to the low density of a‐syn pathology and the frequency of co‐existing proteinopathies in PD (e.g., beta‐amyloid, tau), an a‐syn PET tracer must display high binding affinity and selectivity to the target, as well as minimal background.