Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease, with an estimated 24 million patients suffering from the disease worldwide. At this time there are no effective therapies or diagnostic tools for AD. One potential diagnostic target is the protein butyrylcholinesterase (BChE). BChE is a well established component of amyloid plaques in AD and appears to influence their maturation. Researchers have designed a class of radiohalide labeled moleucles (cycloSaligenyl triesters of 2'-deoxy-3'-fluorothymidine) for imaging of AD progression and response to therapy. These radioactive compounds have the very unique and unprecedented ability to bind very specifically and irreversibly to BChE. In addition to use as a highly efficient imaging model, there is the potential for therapeutic benefit due to the fact that the compounds inhibit BChE.