An MRI scan could potentially be used as an imaging biomarker for Alzheimer’s disease by detecting changes in brain connections.
Jeffrey W. Prescott, MD, PhD, a radiology resident at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina, and colleagues examined results from 102 patients enrolled in the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) 2, a national study.
The patients underwent diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), a type of MRI that measures white matter tracts in the brain known as the connectome that carry signals to different areas of the brain.
The researchers compared changes in the connectome with results from florbetapir positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, which measures the beta-amyloid plaque thought to cause Alzheimer’s in the brain.
The was a strong association between florbetapir uptake and a decline in strength of the connectome in five areas of the brain, Prescott reported at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America in Chicago. The increased uptake is associated with higher amount of beta-amyloid.
“This study ties together two of the major changes in the Alzheimer's brain — structural tissue changes and pathological amyloid plaque deposition — and suggests a promising role for DTI as a possible diagnostic adjunct,” Prescott said in a statement.
Slideshow
Understanding Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer disease is an irreversible, progressive brain disease that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills, and eventually even the ability to carry out the simplest tasks, according to the National Institute on Aging. In most people with Alzheimer’s, symptoms first…
Changes in brain connections visible on MRI scans could represent an imaging biomarker of Alzheimer’s disease, according to a new study presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America.
For the new study, researchers looked at the brain‘s structural connectome, a map of white matter tracts that carry signals between different areas of the brain.
Researchers analyzed results from 102 patients enrolled in a national study called the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) 2. The patients had undergone diffusion tensor imaging, an MRI method that assesses the integrity of white matter tracts in the brain by measuring how easy it is for water to move along them
Enjoying our content?
Thanks for visiting Psychiatry Advisor. We hope you’re enjoying the latest clinical news, full-length features, case studies, and more.
You’ve viewed {{metering-count}} of {{metering-total}} articles this month. If you wish to read unlimited content, please log in or register below. Registration is free.
{{login-button}} {{register-button}}
Log in to continue reading this article.
Don’t miss out on today’s top content on Psychiatry Advisor. Register for free and gain unlimited access to:
- Clinical News, with personalized daily picks for you
- Evidence-Based Guidance
- Conference Coverage
- Unique Psychiatry Case Studies
- Full-Length Features
- Drug Monographs
- And More
{{login-button}} {{register-button}}
Want to read more?
Please login or register first to view this content.