with current research using advances in neuroimaging such as fdg-pet and pib-pet scans, and cerebrospinal fluid (csf) assays, it is now possible to detect the beginning processes of alzheimer's disease that occur before symptoms begin. the research suggests that clinically normal older people (no symptoms at all) have "biomarker" evidence of amyloid beta (aβ) build-up in the brain. this amyloid beta (aβ) is linked to changes in the structure of the brain and how it works that is the similar to what is seen in people with mild cognitive impairment (mci) - which may lead to alzheimer's - and people with alzheimer's.