Several research efforts are under way to develop better ways of diagnosing and treating Alzheimer's disease at an early stage. One of the more promising trials yielded a radioactive agent called 18F-AV-45, which allows for longer PET scans and produces better images of beta amyloid plaque in the brains of Alzheimer's patients. Another effort aims to develop vaccines than can either remove beta amyloid from the brain or produce antibodies to attack it.