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Wearn A, Tremblay SA, Tardif CL, Leppert IR, Gauthier CJ, Baracchini G, Hughes C, Hewan P, Tremblay-Mercier J, Rosa-Neto P, Poirier J, Villeneuve S, Schmitz TW, Turner GR, Spreng RN. Neuromodulatory subcortical nucleus integrity is associated with white matter microstructure, tauopathy and APOE status. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4706. [PMID: 38830849 PMCID: PMC11148077 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48490-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
The neuromodulatory subcortical nuclei within the isodendritic core (IdC) are the earliest sites of tauopathy in Alzheimer's disease (AD). They project broadly throughout the brain's white matter. We investigated the relationship between IdC microstructure and whole-brain white matter microstructure to better understand early neuropathological changes in AD. Using multiparametric quantitative magnetic resonance imaging we observed two covariance patterns between IdC and white matter microstructure in 133 cognitively unimpaired older adults (age 67.9 ± 5.3 years) with familial risk for AD. IdC integrity related to 1) whole-brain neurite density, and 2) neurite orientation dispersion in white matter tracts known to be affected early in AD. Pattern 2 was associated with CSF concentration of phosphorylated-tau, indicating AD specificity. Apolipoprotein-E4 carriers expressed both patterns more strongly than non-carriers. IdC microstructure variation is reflected in white matter, particularly in AD-affected tracts, highlighting an early mechanism of pathological development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfie Wearn
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, H3A 2B4, QC, Canada.
| | - Stéfanie A Tremblay
- Department of Physics, Concordia University, Montreal, H4B 1R6, QC, Canada
- Montreal Heart Institute, Montreal, H1T 1C8, QC, Canada
- School of Health, Concordia University, Montreal, H4B 1R6, QC, Canada
| | - Christine L Tardif
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, H3A 2B4, QC, Canada
- McConnell Brain Imaging Centre, McGill University, Montreal, H3A 2B4, QC, Canada
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, McGill University, McGill, H3A 2B4, QC, Canada
| | - Ilana R Leppert
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, H3A 2B4, QC, Canada
- McConnell Brain Imaging Centre, McGill University, Montreal, H3A 2B4, QC, Canada
| | - Claudine J Gauthier
- Department of Physics, Concordia University, Montreal, H4B 1R6, QC, Canada
- Montreal Heart Institute, Montreal, H1T 1C8, QC, Canada
- School of Health, Concordia University, Montreal, H4B 1R6, QC, Canada
| | - Giulia Baracchini
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, H3A 2B4, QC, Canada
| | - Colleen Hughes
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, H3A 2B4, QC, Canada
| | - Patrick Hewan
- Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, M3J 1P3, ON, Canada
| | | | - Pedro Rosa-Neto
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, H3A 2B4, QC, Canada
- McConnell Brain Imaging Centre, McGill University, Montreal, H3A 2B4, QC, Canada
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute-Research Center, Verdun, H4H 1R3, QC, Canada
| | - Judes Poirier
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute-Research Center, Verdun, H4H 1R3, QC, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, H3A 1A1, QC, Canada
| | - Sylvia Villeneuve
- McConnell Brain Imaging Centre, McGill University, Montreal, H3A 2B4, QC, Canada
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute-Research Center, Verdun, H4H 1R3, QC, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, H3A 1A1, QC, Canada
| | - Taylor W Schmitz
- Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, Western Institute for Neuroscience, Western University, London, N6A 5C1, ON, Canada
| | - Gary R Turner
- Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, M3J 1P3, ON, Canada
| | - R Nathan Spreng
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, H3A 2B4, QC, Canada.
- McConnell Brain Imaging Centre, McGill University, Montreal, H3A 2B4, QC, Canada.
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute-Research Center, Verdun, H4H 1R3, QC, Canada.
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, H3A 1A1, QC, Canada.
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Kofler A, Kerkering KM, Goschel L, Fillmer A, Kolbitsch C. Quantitative MR Image Reconstruction Using Parameter-Specific Dictionary Learning With Adaptive Dictionary-Size and Sparsity-Level Choice. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng 2024; 71:388-399. [PMID: 37540614 DOI: 10.1109/tbme.2023.3300090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/06/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We propose a method for the reconstruction of parameter-maps in Quantitative Magnetic Resonance Imaging (QMRI). METHODS Because different quantitative parameter-maps differ from each other in terms of local features, we propose a method where the employed dictionary learning (DL) and sparse coding (SC) algorithms automatically estimate the optimal dictionary-size and sparsity level separately for each parameter-map. We evaluated the method on a T1-mapping QMRI problem in the brain using the BrainWeb data as well as in-vivo brain images acquired on an ultra-high field 7 T scanner. We compared it to a model-based acceleration for parameter mapping (MAP) approach, other sparsity-based methods using total variation (TV), Wavelets (Wl), and Shearlets (Sh) to a method which uses DL and SC to reconstruct qualitative images, followed by a non-linear (DL+Fit). RESULTS Our algorithm surpasses MAP, TV, Wl, and Sh in terms of RMSE and PSNR. It yields better or comparable results to DL+Fit by additionally significantly accelerating the reconstruction by a factor of approximately seven. CONCLUSION The proposed method outperforms the reported methods of comparison and yields accurate T1-maps. Although presented for T1-mapping in the brain, our method's structure is general and thus most probably also applicable for the the reconstruction of other quantitative parameters in other organs. SIGNIFICANCE From a clinical perspective, the obtained T1-maps could be utilized to differentiate between healthy subjects and patients with Alzheimer's disease. From a technical perspective, the proposed unsupervised method could be employed to obtain ground-truth data for the development of data-driven methods based on supervised learning.
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Zhao M, Zhang G, Huang S, Zhang J, Zhu Y, Zhu X, Zhang R, Li F. An activatable small-molecule fluorogenic probe for detection and quantification of beta-amyloid aggregates. SPECTROCHIMICA ACTA. PART A, MOLECULAR AND BIOMOLECULAR SPECTROSCOPY 2023; 303:123145. [PMID: 37478711 DOI: 10.1016/j.saa.2023.123145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/23/2023]
Abstract
Extracellular accumulation of β amyloid (Aβ) peptides in the brain is thought to be a pathological hallmark and initial event before the symptom starts of Alzheimer's patients. Herein, we developed two series of benzo[d]thiazole-based small-molecule compounds (BM1-BM4, BPM1-BPM4) with a donor-acceptor (D-A) or donor-π-acceptor (D-π-A) architecture, respectively, based on structure-activity relationship. Among them, the optimized BPM1 not only displayed the highest binding affinity to Aβ aggregates over other proteins or Aβ monomers, but was readily activated its fluorescence with 10-fold fluorescence enhancement, allowing for specifically and sensitively detecting Aβ aggregates. BPM1 also exhibits several other advantages including low molecular weight, low cytotoxicity and excellent biological stability. Besides, cell staining results confirmed that SK-N-BE(2) cells can be fluorescently lighted up as well as cell permeability and damage when treated with BPM1-bound Aβ1-42 aggregates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng Zhao
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Research Center for Translations Medicine, the Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230601, PR China
| | - Gang Zhang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Research Center for Translations Medicine, the Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230601, PR China
| | - Shan Huang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Research Center for Translations Medicine, the Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230601, PR China
| | - Jingmiao Zhang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Research Center for Translations Medicine, the Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230601, PR China
| | - Yingzhong Zhu
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering and Institute of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, PR China.
| | - Xiaxia Zhu
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Research Center for Translations Medicine, the Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230601, PR China
| | - Ruilong Zhang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering and Institute of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, PR China
| | - Fei Li
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Research Center for Translations Medicine, the Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230601, PR China.
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Santos RM, Tavares CA, Santos TMR, Rasouli H, Ramalho TC. MD Simulations to Calculate NMR Relaxation Parameters of Vanadium(IV) Complexes: A Promising Diagnostic Tool for Cancer and Alzheimer's Disease. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:1653. [PMID: 38139780 PMCID: PMC10747690 DOI: 10.3390/ph16121653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Early phase diagnosis of human diseases has still been a challenge in the medicinal field, and one of the efficient non-invasive techniques that is vastly used for this purpose is magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MRI is able to detect a wide range of diseases and conditions, including nervous system disorders and cancer, and uses the principles of NMR relaxation to generate detailed internal images of the body. For such investigation, different metal complexes have been studied as potential MRI contrast agents. With this in mind, this work aims to investigate two systems containing the vanadium complexes [VO(metf)2]·H2O (VC1) and [VO(bpy)2Cl]+ (VC2), being metformin and bipyridine ligands of the respective complexes, with the biological targets AMPK and ULK1. These biomolecules are involved in the progression of Alzheimer's disease and triple-negative breast cancer, respectively, and may act as promising spectroscopic probes for detection of these diseases. To initially evaluate the behavior of the studied ligands within the aforementioned protein active sites and aqueous environment, four classical molecular dynamics (MD) simulations including VC1 + H2O (1), VC2 + H2O (2), VC1 + AMPK + H2O (3), and VC2 + ULK1 + H2O (4) were performed. From this, it was obtained that for both systems containing VCs and water only, the theoretical calculations implied a higher efficiency when compared with DOTAREM, a famous commercially available contrast agent for MRI. This result is maintained when evaluating the system containing VC1 + AMPK + H2O. Nevertheless, for the system VC2 + ULK1 + H2O, there was observed a decrease in the vanadium complex efficiency due to the presence of a relevant steric hindrance. Despite that, due to the nature of the interaction between VC2 and ULK1, and the nature of its ligands, the study gives an insight that some modifications on VC2 structure might improve its efficiency as an MRI probe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo Mancini Santos
- Laboratory of Molecular Modelling, Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Lavras, Lavras 37200-000, MG, Brazil; (R.M.S.); (T.M.R.S.); (H.R.)
| | - Camila Assis Tavares
- Laboratory of Molecular Modelling, Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Lavras, Lavras 37200-000, MG, Brazil; (R.M.S.); (T.M.R.S.); (H.R.)
| | - Taináh Martins Resende Santos
- Laboratory of Molecular Modelling, Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Lavras, Lavras 37200-000, MG, Brazil; (R.M.S.); (T.M.R.S.); (H.R.)
| | - Hassan Rasouli
- Laboratory of Molecular Modelling, Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Lavras, Lavras 37200-000, MG, Brazil; (R.M.S.); (T.M.R.S.); (H.R.)
- Medical Biology Research Center (MBRC), Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah 6714414971, Iran
| | - Teodorico Castro Ramalho
- Laboratory of Molecular Modelling, Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Lavras, Lavras 37200-000, MG, Brazil; (R.M.S.); (T.M.R.S.); (H.R.)
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Hradec Králové, 500 03 Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
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Serrano ME, Kim E, Siow B, Ma D, Rojo L, Simmons C, Hayward D, Gibbins D, Singh N, Strydom A, Fisher EM, Tybulewicz VL, Cash D. Investigating brain alterations in the Dp1Tyb mouse model of Down syndrome. Neurobiol Dis 2023; 188:106336. [PMID: 38317803 PMCID: PMC7615598 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Down syndrome (DS) is one of the most common birth defects and the most prevalent genetic form of intellectual disability. DS arises from trisomy of chromosome 21, but its molecular and pathological consequences are not fully understood. In this study, we compared Dp1Tyb mice, a DS model, against their wild-type (WT) littermates of both sexes to investigate the impact of DS-related genetic abnormalities on the brain phenotype. We performed in vivo whole brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and hippocampal 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) on the animals at 3 months of age. Subsequently, ex vivo MRI scans and histological analyses were conducted post-mortem. Our findings unveiled the following neuroanatomical and biochemical alterations in the Dp1Tyb brains: a smaller surface area and a rounder shape compared to WT brains, with DS males also presenting smaller global brain volume compared with the counterpart WT. Regional volumetric analysis revealed significant changes in 26 out of 72 examined brain regions, including the medial prefrontal cortex and dorsal hippocampus. These alterations were consistently observed in both in vivo and ex vivo imaging data. Additionally, high-resolution ex vivo imaging enabled us to investigate cerebellar layers and hippocampal sub-regions, revealing selective areas of decrease and remodelling in these structures. An analysis of hippocampal metabolites revealed an elevation in glutamine and the glutamine/glutamate ratio in the Dp1Tyb mice compared to controls, suggesting a possible imbalance in the excitation/inhibition ratio. This was accompanied by the decreased levels of taurine. Histological analysis revealed fewer neurons in the hippocampal CA3 and DG layers, along with an increase in astrocytes and microglia. These findings recapitulate multiple neuroanatomical and biochemical features associated with DS, enriching our understanding of the potential connection between chromosome 21 trisomy and the resultant phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Elisa Serrano
- Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Eugene Kim
- Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Bernard Siow
- The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Da Ma
- Department of Internal Medicine Section of Gerontology and Geriatric Science, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
| | - Loreto Rojo
- Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Camilla Simmons
- Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Nisha Singh
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Warneford Hospital, Oxford, UK
| | - Andre Strydom
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Elizabeth M.C. Fisher
- UCL Queen Square Motor Neuron Disease Centre, Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, UCL, London, UK
| | | | - Diana Cash
- Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
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Powell E, Ohene Y, Battiston M, Dickie BR, Parkes LM, Parker GJM. Blood-brain barrier water exchange measurements using FEXI: Impact of modeling paradigm and relaxation time effects. Magn Reson Med 2023; 90:34-50. [PMID: 36892973 PMCID: PMC10962589 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.29616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Revised: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 03/10/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To evaluate potential modeling paradigms and the impact of relaxation time effects on human blood-brain barrier (BBB) water exchange measurements using FEXI (BBB-FEXI), and to quantify the accuracy, precision, and repeatability of BBB-FEXI exchange rate estimates at 3 T $$ \mathrm{T} $$ . METHODS Three modeling paradigms were evaluated: (i) the apparent exchange rate (AXR) model; (ii) a two-compartment model (2 CM $$ 2\mathrm{CM} $$ ) explicitly representing intra- and extravascular signal components, and (iii) a two-compartment model additionally accounting for finite compartmentalT 1 $$ {\mathrm{T}}_1 $$ andT 2 $$ {\mathrm{T}}_2 $$ relaxation times (2 CM r $$ 2{\mathrm{CM}}_r $$ ). Each model had three free parameters. Simulations quantified biases introduced by the assumption of infinite relaxation times in the AXR and2 CM $$ 2\mathrm{CM} $$ models, as well as the accuracy and precision of all three models. The scan-rescan repeatability of all paradigms was quantified for the first time in vivo in 10 healthy volunteers (age range 23-52 years; five female). RESULTS The assumption of infinite relaxation times yielded exchange rate errors in simulations up to 42%/14% in the AXR/2 CM $$ 2\mathrm{CM} $$ models, respectively. Accuracy was highest in the compartmental models; precision was best in the AXR model. Scan-rescan repeatability in vivo was good for all models, with negligible bias and repeatability coefficients in grey matter ofRC AXR = 0 . 43 $$ {\mathrm{RC}}_{\mathrm{AXR}}=0.43 $$ s - 1 $$ {\mathrm{s}}^{-1} $$ ,RC 2 CM = 0 . 51 $$ {\mathrm{RC}}_{2\mathrm{CM}}=0.51 $$ s - 1 $$ {\mathrm{s}}^{-1} $$ , andRC 2 CM r = 0 . 61 $$ {\mathrm{RC}}_{2{\mathrm{CM}}_r}=0.61 $$ s - 1 $$ {\mathrm{s}}^{-1} $$ . CONCLUSION Compartmental modelling of BBB-FEXI signals can provide accurate and repeatable measurements of BBB water exchange; however, relaxation time and partial volume effects may cause model-dependent biases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Powell
- Centre for Medical Image Computing, Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical EngineeringUniversity College LondonLondonUK
| | - Yolanda Ohene
- Division of Psychology, Communication and Human Neuroscience, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and HealthUniversity of ManchesterManchesterUK
- Geoffrey Jefferson Brain Research Centre, Manchester Academic Health Science CentreUniversity of ManchesterManchesterUK
| | - Marco Battiston
- Queen Square MS CentreUCL Institute of Neurology, University College LondonLondonUK
| | - Ben R. Dickie
- Geoffrey Jefferson Brain Research Centre, Manchester Academic Health Science CentreUniversity of ManchesterManchesterUK
- Division of Informatics, Imaging and Data SciencesSchool of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of ManchesterManchesterUK
| | - Laura M. Parkes
- Division of Psychology, Communication and Human Neuroscience, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and HealthUniversity of ManchesterManchesterUK
- Geoffrey Jefferson Brain Research Centre, Manchester Academic Health Science CentreUniversity of ManchesterManchesterUK
| | - Geoff J. M. Parker
- Centre for Medical Image Computing, Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical EngineeringUniversity College LondonLondonUK
- Queen Square MS CentreUCL Institute of Neurology, University College LondonLondonUK
- Bioxydyn LimitedManchesterUK
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Wang X, Wang D, Li X, Wang W, Gao P, Lou B, Pfeuffer J, Zhang X, Zhu J, Li C, Chen M. A diagnostic index based on pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling and T1-mapping improves efficacy in discriminating Alzheimer’s disease from normal cognition. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:974651. [PMID: 35992919 PMCID: PMC9389211 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.974651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling (pCASL) is widely used to quantify cerebral blood flow (CBF) abnormalities in patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). T1-mapping techniques assess microstructural characteristics in various pathologic changes, but their application in AD remains in the exploratory stage. We hypothesized that combining quantitative CBF and T1 values would generate diagnostic results with higher accuracy than using either method alone in discriminating AD patients from cognitively normal control (NC) subjects. Materials and methods A total of 45 patients diagnosed with AD and 33 NC subjects were enrolled, and cognitive assessment was performed for each participant according to the Chinese version of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). T1-weighted magnetization-prepared 2 rapid acquisition gradient echo (MP2RAGE) and pCASL sequence were scanned on a 3T MR scanner. A brain morphometric analysis was integrated into prototype sequence, providing tissue classification and morphometric segmentation results. Quantitative CBF and T1 values of each brain region were automatically generated inline after data acquisition. Independent samples t-test was used to compare regional CBF and T1 values controlled by false discovery rate correction (corrected p < 0.01). The model with combined CBF and T1 values was compared with the individual index by performing receiver operating characteristic curves analysis. The associations between the MMSE score and CBF and T1 values of the brain were investigated using partial correlations. Results Cerebral blood flow of the right caudate nucleus (RCc) and left hippocampus (LHc) was significantly lower in the AD group compared with the NC group, while the T1 values of the right caudate nucleus (RCt) and left hippocampus (LHt) increased in the AD group. Prediction accuracies of 73.1, 77.2, 75.9, and 81.3% were achieved for each of the above parameters, respectively. In distinguishing patients from controls using the corresponding optimized cut-off values, most combinations of parameters were elevated (area under curve = 0.775–0.894). The highest area under curve value was 0.944, by combining RCc, LHc, RCt, and LHt. Conclusion In this preliminary study, the combined model based on pCASL and T1-mapping improved the diagnostic performance of discriminating AD and NC groups. T1-mapping may become a competitive technique for quantitatively measuring pathologic changes in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaonan Wang
- Department of Radiology, National Center of Gerontology, Beijing Hospital, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
- Graduate School of Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Di Wang
- Department of Radiology, National Center of Gerontology, Beijing Hospital, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
- Graduate School of Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xinyang Li
- Department of Radiology, National Center of Gerontology, Beijing Hospital, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
- Graduate School of Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Wenqi Wang
- Department of Radiology, Children’s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ping Gao
- Department of Neurology, National Center of Gerontology, Beijing Hospital, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Baohui Lou
- Department of Radiology, National Center of Gerontology, Beijing Hospital, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Josef Pfeuffer
- MR Application Development, Siemens Healthcare GmbH, Erlangen, Germany
| | | | - Jinxia Zhu
- MR Collaboration, Siemens Healthineers Ltd., Beijing, China
| | - Chunmei Li
- Department of Radiology, National Center of Gerontology, Beijing Hospital, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
- Graduate School of Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Chunmei Li,
| | - Min Chen
- Department of Radiology, National Center of Gerontology, Beijing Hospital, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
- Graduate School of Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
- Min Chen,
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Salluzzi M, McCreary CR, Gobbi DG, Lauzon ML, Frayne R. Short-term repeatability and long-term reproducibility of quantitative MR imaging biomarkers in a single centre longitudinal study. Neuroimage 2022; 260:119488. [PMID: 35878725 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2022.119488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Revised: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 10/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Quantitative imaging biomarkers (QIBs) can be defined as objective measures that are sensitive and specific to changes in tissue physiology. Provided the acquired QIBs are not affected by scanner changes, they could play an important role in disease diagnosis, prognosis, management, and treatment monitoring. The precision of selected QIBs was assessed from data collected on a 3-T scanner in four healthy participants over a 5-year period. Inevitable scanner changes and acquisition protocol revisions occurred during this time. Standard and custom processing pipelines were used to calculate regional brain volume, cortical thickness, T2, T2*, quantitative susceptibility, cerebral blood flow, axial, radial and mean diffusivity, peak width of skeletonized mean diffusivity, and fractional anisotropy from the acquired images. Coefficient of variation (CoV) and intra-class correlation (ICC) indices were determined in the short-term (i.e., repeatable over three acquisitions within 4 weeks) and in the long-term (i.e., reproducible over four acquisition sessions in 5 years). Precision indices varied based on acquisition technique, processing pipeline, and anatomical region. Good repeatability (average CoV=2.40% and ICC=0.78) and reproducibility (average CoV=8.86 % and ICC=0.72) were found over all QIBs. The best performance indices were obtained for diffusion derived biomarkers (CoV∼0.96% and ICCs=0.87); conversely, the poorest indices were found for the cerebral blood flow biomarker (CoV>10% and ICC<0.5). These results demonstrate that changes in protocol, along with hardware and software upgrades, did not affect the estimates of the selected biomarkers and their precision. Further characterization of the QIB is necessary to understand meaningful changes in the biomarkers in longitudinal studies of normal brain aging and translation to clinical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Salluzzi
- Departments of Radiology and Clinical Neurosciences, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Calgary Image Processing and Analysis Centre (CIPAC), Foothills Medical Centre, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
| | - Cheryl R McCreary
- Departments of Radiology and Clinical Neurosciences, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Seaman Family MR Research Centre, Foothills Medical Centre, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - David G Gobbi
- Departments of Radiology and Clinical Neurosciences, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Calgary Image Processing and Analysis Centre (CIPAC), Foothills Medical Centre, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Michel Louis Lauzon
- Departments of Radiology and Clinical Neurosciences, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Seaman Family MR Research Centre, Foothills Medical Centre, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Richard Frayne
- Departments of Radiology and Clinical Neurosciences, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Seaman Family MR Research Centre, Foothills Medical Centre, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Calgary Image Processing and Analysis Centre (CIPAC), Foothills Medical Centre, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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Coad BM, Ghomroudi PA, Sims R, Aggleton JP, Vann SD, Metzler-Baddeley C. Apolipoprotein ε4 modifies obesity-related atrophy in the hippocampal formation of cognitively healthy adults. Neurobiol Aging 2022; 113:39-54. [PMID: 35303671 PMCID: PMC9084919 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2022.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Revised: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Age-related inverted U-shaped curve of hippocampal myelin/neurite packing. Reduced hippocampal myelin/neurite packing and size/complexity in obesity. APOE modifies the effects of obesity on hippocampal size/complexity. Age-related slowing of spatial navigation but no risk effects on cognition. CA/DG predict episodic memory and subiculum predicts spatial navigation performance.
Characterizing age- and risk-related hippocampal vulnerabilities may inform about the neural underpinnings of cognitive decline. We studied the impact of three risk-factors, Apolipoprotein (APOE)-ε4, a family history of dementia, and central obesity, on the CA1, CA2/3, dentate gyrus and subiculum of 158 cognitively healthy adults (38-71 years). Subfields were labelled with the Automatic Segmentation of Hippocampal Subfields and FreeSurfer (version 6) protocols. Volumetric and microstructural measurements from quantitative magnetization transfer and Neurite Orientation Density and Dispersion Imaging were extracted for each subfield and reduced to three principal components capturing apparent myelin/neurite packing, size/complexity, and metabolism. Aging was associated with an inverse U-shaped curve on myelin/neurite packing and affected all subfields. Obesity led to reductions in myelin/neurite packing and size/complexity regardless of APOE and family history of dementia status. However, amongst individuals with a healthy Waist-Hip-Ratio, APOE ε4 carriers showed lower size/complexity than non-carriers. Segmentation protocol type did not affect this risk pattern. These findings reveal interactive effects between APOE and central obesity on the hippocampal formation of cognitively healthy adults.
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10
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Fingerhut H, Gozdas E, Hosseini SH. Quantitative MRI Evidence for Cognitive Reserve in Healthy Elders and Prodromal Alzheimer's Disease. J Alzheimers Dis 2022; 89:849-863. [PMID: 35964179 PMCID: PMC9928487 DOI: 10.3233/jad-220197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cognitive reserve (CR) has been postulated to contribute to the variation observed between neuropathology and clinical outcomes in Alzheimer's disease (AD). OBJECTIVE We investigated the effect of an education-occupation derived CR proxy on biological properties of white matter tracts in patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) and healthy elders (HC). METHODS Educational attainment and occupational complexity ratings (complexity with data, people, and things) from thirty-five patients with aMCI and twenty-eight HC were used to generate composite CR scores. Quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (qMRI) and multi-shell diffusion MRI were used to extract macromolecular tissue volume (MTV) across major white matter tracts. RESULTS We observed significant differences in the association between CR and white matter tract MTV in aMCI versus HC when age, gender, intracranial volume, and memory ability were held constant. Particularly, in aMCI, higher CR was associated with worse tract pathology (lower MTV) in the left and right dorsal cingulum, callosum forceps major, right inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus, and right superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF) tracts. Conversely higher CR was associated with higher MTV in the right parahippocampal cingulum and left SLF in HC. CONCLUSION Our results support compensatory CR mechanisms in aMCI and neuroprotective mechanisms in HC and suggest differential roles for CR on white matter macromolecular properties in healthy elders versus prodromal AD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - S.M. Hadi Hosseini
- Correspondence to: S.M. Hadi Hosseini, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, C-BRAIN Lab, 401 Quarry Rd., Stanford, CA 94305-5795, USA. Tel.: +1 650 723 5798;
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11
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O'Reilly T, Webb AG. In vivo T 1 and T 2 relaxation time maps of brain tissue, skeletal muscle, and lipid measured in healthy volunteers at 50 mT. Magn Reson Med 2021; 87:884-895. [PMID: 34520068 PMCID: PMC9292835 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.29009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2021] [Revised: 08/12/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Low-field (B0 < 0.1 T) MRI has generated much interest as a means of increased accessibility via reduced cost and improved portability compared to conventional clinical systems (B0 ≥ 1.5 Tesla). Here we measure MR relaxation times at 50 mT and compare results with commonly used models based on both in vivo and ex vivo measurements. METHODS Using 3D turbo spin echo readouts, T1 and T2 maps of the human brain and lower leg were acquired on a custom-built 50 mT MRI scanner using inversion-recovery and multi-echo-based sequences, respectively. Image segmentation was performed based on a histogram analysis of the relaxation times. RESULTS The average T1 times of gray matter, white matter, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were 327 ± 10 ms, 275 ± 5 ms, and 3695 ± 287 ms, respectively. Corresponding values of T2 were 102 ± 6 ms, 102 ± 6 ms, and 1584 ± 124 ms. T1 times in the calf muscle were measured to be 171 ± 11 ms and were 130 ± 5 ms in subcutaneous and bone marrow lipid. Corresponding T2 times were 39 ± 2 ms in muscle and 90 ± 13 ms in lipid. CONCLUSIONS For tissues except for CSF, the measured T1 times are much shorter than reported at higher fields and generally lie within the range of different models in the literature. As expected, T2 times are similar to those seen at typical clinical field strengths. Analysis of the relaxation maps indicates that segmentation of white and gray matter based purely on T1 or T2 will be quite challenging at low field given the relatively small difference in relaxation times.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas O'Reilly
- Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Andrew G Webb
- Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
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12
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Wearn AR, Nurdal V, Saunders-Jennings E, Knight MJ, Madan CR, Fallon SJ, Isotalus HK, Kauppinen RA, Coulthard EJ. T2 heterogeneity as an in vivo marker of microstructural integrity in medial temporal lobe subfields in ageing and mild cognitive impairment. Neuroimage 2021; 238:118214. [PMID: 34116150 PMCID: PMC8350145 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2021.118214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Revised: 05/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
A better understanding of early brain changes that precede loss of independence in diseases like Alzheimer's disease (AD) is critical for development of disease-modifying therapies. Quantitative MRI, such as T2 relaxometry, can identify microstructural changes relevant to early stages of pathology. Recent evidence suggests heterogeneity of T2 may be a more informative MRI measure of early pathology than absolute T2. Here we test whether T2 markers of brain integrity precede the volume changes we know are present in established AD and whether such changes are most marked in medial temporal lobe (MTL) subfields known to be most affected early in AD. We show that T2 heterogeneity was greater in people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI; n = 49) compared to healthy older controls (n = 99) in all MTL subfields, but this increase was greatest in MTL cortices, and smallest in dentate gyrus. This reflects the spatio-temporal progression of neurodegeneration in AD. T2 heterogeneity in CA1-3 and entorhinal cortex and volume of entorhinal cortex showed some ability to predict cognitive decline, where absolute T2 could not, however further studies are required to verify this result. Increases in T2 heterogeneity in MTL cortices may reflect localised pathological change and may present as one of the earliest detectible brain changes prior to atrophy. Finally, we describe a mechanism by which memory, as measured by accuracy and reaction time on a paired associate learning task, deteriorates with age. Age-related memory deficits were explained in part by lower subfield volumes, which in turn were directly associated with greater T2 heterogeneity. We propose that tissue with high T2 heterogeneity represents extant tissue at risk of permanent damage but with the potential for therapeutic rescue. This has implications for early detection of neurodegenerative diseases and the study of brain-behaviour relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfie R Wearn
- Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Institute of Clinical Neurosciences, Learning & Research Building at Southmead Hospital, Bristol BS10 5NB, UK.
| | - Volkan Nurdal
- Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Institute of Clinical Neurosciences, Learning & Research Building at Southmead Hospital, Bristol BS10 5NB, UK
| | - Esther Saunders-Jennings
- Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Institute of Clinical Neurosciences, Learning & Research Building at Southmead Hospital, Bristol BS10 5NB, UK
| | - Michael J Knight
- School of Psychological Science, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | | | - Sean-James Fallon
- National Institute for Health Research Bristol Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospitals Bristol, NHS Foundation Trust and University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Hanna K Isotalus
- Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Institute of Clinical Neurosciences, Learning & Research Building at Southmead Hospital, Bristol BS10 5NB, UK
| | | | - Elizabeth J Coulthard
- Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Institute of Clinical Neurosciences, Learning & Research Building at Southmead Hospital, Bristol BS10 5NB, UK; Clinical Neurosciences, North Bristol NHS Trust, Bristol, UK
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13
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Li C, Chen Y, Wu PY, Wu B, Gong T, Wang H, Chen M. Associations between brain volumetry and relaxometry signatures and the Edmonton Frail Scale in frailty. Quant Imaging Med Surg 2021; 11:2560-2571. [PMID: 34079723 DOI: 10.21037/qims-20-852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Background Frailty is a geriatric condition characterized by a decreased reserve. The Edmonton frailty scale (EFS) has been widely used as an assessment tool in clinical practice. However, the brain's underlying pathophysiological changes in frailty and their associations with the EFS remain unclear. This study aimed to explore the associations between brain volumetry and relaxometry signatures and the EFS (and each domain score of the EFS) in frailty. Methods A total of 40 non-demented subjects were enrolled in this prospective study. Frailty assessment was performed for each subject according to the EFS. All subjects underwent synthetic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (MAGnetic resonance image Compilation, MAGiC) and three-dimensional fast spoiled gradient-recalled echo (3D-FSPGR) T1-weighted structural image acquisitions on a 3.0 T MR scanner. Brain segmentation was performed based on quantitative values obtained from the MAGiC and 3D-FSPGR images. Volumetry and relaxometry of the global brain and regional gray matter (GM) were also obtained. The associations between the total EFS score (and the score of each domain) and the brain's volumetry and relaxometry were investigated by partial correlation while eliminating the effects of age. Multiple comparisons of regional GM volumetry and relaxometry analyses were controlled by false discovery rate (FDR) correction. All data were analyzed using the SPSS 13.0 statistical package (IBM, Armonk, NY, USA) and MATLAB (MathWorks, Natick, MA, USA). Results For global volumetry, significant correlations were found between multiple global volumetry parameters and the EFS, as well as the cognition score, functional independence score, nutrition score, and functional performance score (P<0.05). For global relaxometry, notable positive correlations were found between the T2 values of gray and white matter (WM) and the EFS (r=0.357, P=0.026; r=0.357, P=0.026, respectively). Significant correlations were also identified between the T2 value of GM, the T1, T2, and PD values of WM, and the cognition score (r=0.426, P=0.007; r=0.456, P=0.003; r=0.377, P=0.018; r=0.424, P=0.007, respectively), functional independence score (r=-0.392, P=0.014; r=-0.611, P<0.001; r=-0.367, P=0.022; r=-0.569, P<0.001, respectively), and functional performance score (r=0.337, P=0.036; r=0.472, P=0.002; r=0.354, P=0.027; r=0.376, P=0.018, respectively). For regional GM volumetry, multiple regions showed significant negative correlations with the EFS (P<0.05). Notable negative correlations were found between multiple regional GM volume and the functional independence score (P<0.05). For regional GM relaxometry, the T1 and T2 values of several regions showed significant negative correlations with the functional independence score (T1 value of caudate, r=-0.617, P<0.001; T2 value of insula, r=-0.510, P=0.015; T2 value of caudate, r=-0.633, P<0.001, respectively). No significant correlation was found between the domain scores of the EFS and regional GM PD values (P>0.05). Conclusions In conclusion, brain volumetry and relaxometry signatures showed strong associations with the EFS and some EFS domain scores in frailty. These associations may reveal the possible underlying pathophysiology of the EFS and different domains of the EFS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunmei Li
- Department of Radiology, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yuhui Chen
- Department of Neurology, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | | | - Bing Wu
- GE Healthcare, Beijing, China
| | - Tao Gong
- Department of Neurology, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Hua Wang
- Department of Cardiology, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Min Chen
- Department of Radiology, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
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14
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Gozdas E, Fingerhut H, Wu H, Bruno JL, Dacorro L, Jo B, O'Hara R, Reiss AL, Hosseini SMH. Quantitative measurement of macromolecular tissue properties in white and gray matter in healthy aging and amnestic MCI. Neuroimage 2021; 237:118161. [PMID: 34000394 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2021.118161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2021] [Revised: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Healthy and pathological aging influence brain microstructure via complex processes. Discerning these processes requires measurements that are sensitive to specific biological properties of brain tissue. We integrated a novel quantitative R1 measure with multi-shell diffusion weighted imaging to map age-associated changes in macromolecular tissue volume (MTV) along major white matter tracts in healthy older adults and patients with amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment (aMCI). Reduced MTV in association tracts was associated with older age in healthy aging, was correlated with memory performance, and distinguished aMCI from controls. We also mapped changes in gray matter tissue properties using quantitative R1 measurements. We documented a widespread decrease in R1 with advancing age across the cortex and decreased R1 in aMCI compared with controls in regions implicated in episodic memory. Our data are the first to characterize MTV loss along major white matter tracts in aMCI and suggest that qMRI is a sensitive measure for detecting subtle degeneration of white and gray matter tissue that cannot be detected by conventional MRI and diffusion measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elveda Gozdas
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States.
| | - Hannah Fingerhut
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Hua Wu
- Center for Cognitive and Neurobiological Imaging, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Jennifer L Bruno
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Lauren Dacorro
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Booil Jo
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Ruth O'Hara
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Allan L Reiss
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - S M Hadi Hosseini
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
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15
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Lou B, Jiang Y, Li C, Wu PY, Li S, Qin B, Chen H, Wang R, Wu B, Chen M. Quantitative Analysis of Synthetic Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Alzheimer's Disease. Front Aging Neurosci 2021; 13:638731. [PMID: 33912023 PMCID: PMC8072384 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2021.638731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and whether synthetic MRI can benefit diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Materials and Methods: Eighteen patients and eighteen age-matched normal controls (NCs) underwent MR examination. The mini-mental state examination (MMSE) scores were obtained from all patients. The whole brain volumetric characteristics, T1, T2, and proton density (PD) values of different cortical and subcortical regions were obtained. The volumetric characteristics and brain regional relaxation values between AD patients and NCs were compared using independent-samples t-test. The correlations between these quantitative parameters and MMSE score were assessed by the Pearson correlation in AD patients. Results: Although the larger volume of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), lower brain parenchymal volume (BPV), and the ratio of brain parenchymal volume to intracranial volume (BPV/ICV) were found in AD patients compared with NCs, there were no significant differences (p > 0.05). T1 values of right insula cortex and T2 values of left hippocampus and right insula cortex were significantly higher in AD patients than in NCs, but T1 values of left caudate showed a reverse trend (p < 0.05). As the MMSE score decreased in AD patients, the BPV and BPV/ICV decreased, while the volume of CSF and T1 values of bilateral insula cortex and bilateral hippocampus as well as T2 values of bilateral hippocampus increased (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Synthetic MRI not only provides more information to differentiate AD patients from normal controls, but also reflects the disease severity of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baohui Lou
- Department of Radiology, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yuwei Jiang
- Department of Radiology, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Chunmei Li
- Department of Radiology, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | | | - Shuhua Li
- Department of Neurology, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Bin Qin
- Department of Neurology, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Haibo Chen
- Department of Neurology, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Rui Wang
- Department of Radiology, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Bing Wu
- GE Healthcare, Beijing, China
| | - Min Chen
- Department of Radiology, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
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16
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Lupton MK, Robinson GA, Adam RJ, Rose S, Byrne GJ, Salvado O, Pachana NA, Almeida OP, McAloney K, Gordon SD, Raniga P, Fazlollahi A, Xia Y, Ceslis A, Sonkusare S, Zhang Q, Kholghi M, Karunanithi M, Mosley PE, Lv J, Borne L, Adsett J, Garden N, Fripp J, Martin NG, Guo CC, Breakspear M. A prospective cohort study of prodromal Alzheimer's disease: Prospective Imaging Study of Ageing: Genes, Brain and Behaviour (PISA). NEUROIMAGE-CLINICAL 2020; 29:102527. [PMID: 33341723 PMCID: PMC7750170 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2020.102527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Revised: 11/11/2020] [Accepted: 12/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
This prospective cohort study, "Prospective Imaging Study of Ageing: Genes, Brain and Behaviour" (PISA) seeks to characterise the phenotype and natural history of healthy adult Australians at high future risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD). In particular, we are recruiting midlife and older Australians with high and low genetic risk of dementia to discover biological markers of early neuropathology, identify modifiable risk factors, and establish the very earliest phenotypic and neuronal signs of disease onset. PISA utilises genetic prediction to recruit and enrich a prospective cohort and follow them longitudinally. Online surveys and cognitive testing are used to characterise an Australia-wide sample currently totalling over 3800 participants. Participants from a defined at-risk cohort and positive controls (clinical cohort of patients with mild cognitive impairment or early AD) are invited for onsite visits for detailed functional, structural and molecular neuroimaging, lifestyle monitoring, detailed neurocognitive testing, plus blood sample donation. This paper describes recruitment of the PISA cohort, study methodology and baseline demographics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gail A Robinson
- School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, Australia; Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Robert J Adam
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia; Centre for Clinical Research (UQCCR), The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia; Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital Mental Health Services, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia; Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Stephen Rose
- CSIRO Health and Biosecurity, Australian E-Health Research Centre, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Gerard J Byrne
- Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital Mental Health Services, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia; Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Olivier Salvado
- CSIRO Health and Biosecurity, Australian E-Health Research Centre, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Nancy A Pachana
- School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Osvaldo P Almeida
- Medical School, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia; WA Centre for Health and Ageing of the University of Western Australia, Australia
| | - Kerrie McAloney
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Scott D Gordon
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Parnesh Raniga
- CSIRO Health and Biosecurity, Australian E-Health Research Centre, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Amir Fazlollahi
- CSIRO Health and Biosecurity, Australian E-Health Research Centre, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Ying Xia
- CSIRO Health and Biosecurity, Australian E-Health Research Centre, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Amelia Ceslis
- School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, Australia
| | | | - Qing Zhang
- CSIRO Health and Biosecurity, Australian E-Health Research Centre, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Mahnoosh Kholghi
- CSIRO Health and Biosecurity, Australian E-Health Research Centre, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Mohan Karunanithi
- CSIRO Health and Biosecurity, Australian E-Health Research Centre, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Philip E Mosley
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia; Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, Australia; Neurosciences Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Jinglei Lv
- Sydney Imaging & School of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Léonie Borne
- The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia
| | - Jessica Adsett
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Natalie Garden
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Jurgen Fripp
- CSIRO Health and Biosecurity, Australian E-Health Research Centre, Brisbane, Australia
| | | | - Christine C Guo
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Michael Breakspear
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia; The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia
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17
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Mole JP, Fasano F, Evans J, Sims R, Kidd E, Aggleton JP, Metzler-Baddeley C. APOE-ε4-related differences in left thalamic microstructure in cognitively healthy adults. Sci Rep 2020; 10:19787. [PMID: 33188215 PMCID: PMC7666117 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-75992-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2020] [Accepted: 10/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
APOE-ε4 is a main genetic risk factor for developing late onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD) and is thought to interact adversely with other risk factors on the brain. However, evidence regarding the impact of APOE-ε4 on grey matter structure in asymptomatic individuals remains mixed. Much attention has been devoted to characterising APOE-ε4-related changes in the hippocampus, but LOAD pathology is known to spread through the whole of the Papez circuit including the limbic thalamus. Here, we tested the impact of APOE-ε4 and two other risk factors, a family history of dementia and obesity, on grey matter macro- and microstructure across the whole brain in 165 asymptomatic individuals (38-71 years). Microstructural properties of apparent neurite density and dispersion, free water, myelin and cell metabolism were assessed with Neurite Orientation Density and Dispersion (NODDI) and quantitative magnetization transfer (qMT) imaging. APOE-ε4 carriers relative to non-carriers had a lower macromolecular proton fraction (MPF) in the left thalamus. No risk effects were present for cortical thickness, subcortical volume, or NODDI indices. Reduced thalamic MPF may reflect inflammation-related tissue swelling and/or myelin loss in APOE-ε4. Future prospective studies should investigate the sensitivity and specificity of qMT-based MPF as a non-invasive biomarker for LOAD risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jilu P Mole
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Maindy Road, Cathays, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Fabrizio Fasano
- Siemens Healthcare, Henkestrasse 127, 91052, Erlangen, Germany
| | - John Evans
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Maindy Road, Cathays, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Rebecca Sims
- Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Haydn Ellis Building, Maindy Road, Cathays, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Emma Kidd
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Redwood Building, King Edward VII Avenue,, Cardiff, CF10 3NB, UK
| | - John P Aggleton
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Maindy Road, Cathays, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Claudia Metzler-Baddeley
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Maindy Road, Cathays, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK.
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18
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Mole JP, Fasano F, Evans J, Sims R, Hamilton DA, Kidd E, Metzler-Baddeley C. Genetic risk of dementia modifies obesity effects on white matter myelin in cognitively healthy adults. Neurobiol Aging 2020; 94:298-310. [PMID: 32736120 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2020.06.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2019] [Revised: 06/19/2020] [Accepted: 06/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
APOE-ε4 is a major genetic risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer's disease that interacts with other risk factors, but the nature of such combined effects remains poorly understood. We quantified the impact of APOE-ε4, family history (FH) of dementia, and obesity on white matter (WM) microstructure in 165 asymptomatic adults (38-71 years old) using quantitative magnetization transfer and neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging. Microstructural properties of the fornix, parahippocampal cingulum, and uncinate fasciculus were compared with those in motor and whole-brain WM regions. Widespread interaction effects between APOE, FH, and waist-hip ratio were found in the myelin-sensitive macromolecular proton fraction from quantitative magnetization transfer. Among individuals with the highest genetic risk (FH+ and APOE-ε4), obesity was associated with reduced macromolecular proton fraction in the right parahippocampal cingulum, whereas no effects were present for those without FH. Risk effects on apparent myelin were moderated by hypertension and inflammation-related markers. These findings suggest that genetic risk modifies the impact of obesity on WM myelin consistent with neuroglia models of aging and late-onset Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jilu P Mole
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | | | - John Evans
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Rebecca Sims
- Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Derek A Hamilton
- Department of Psychology, The University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Emma Kidd
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Claudia Metzler-Baddeley
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
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19
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Wearn AR, Nurdal V, Saunders-Jennings E, Knight MJ, Isotalus HK, Dillon S, Tsivos D, Kauppinen RA, Coulthard EJ. T2 heterogeneity: a novel marker of microstructural integrity associated with cognitive decline in people with mild cognitive impairment. Alzheimers Res Ther 2020; 12:105. [PMID: 32912337 PMCID: PMC7488446 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-020-00672-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Accepted: 08/25/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Early Alzheimer's disease (AD) diagnosis is vital for development of disease-modifying therapies. Prior to significant brain tissue atrophy, several microstructural changes take place as a result of Alzheimer's pathology. These include deposition of amyloid, tau and iron, as well as altered water homeostasis in tissue and some cell death. T2 relaxation time, a quantitative MRI measure, is sensitive to these changes and may be a useful non-invasive, early marker of tissue integrity which could predict conversion to dementia. We propose that different microstructural changes affect T2 in opposing ways, such that average 'midpoint' measures of T2 are less sensitive than measuring distribution width (heterogeneity). T2 heterogeneity in the brain may present a sensitive early marker of AD pathology. METHODS In this cohort study, we tested 97 healthy older controls, 49 people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and 10 with a clinical diagnosis of AD. All participants underwent structural MRI including a multi-echo sequence for quantitative T2 assessment. Cognitive change over 1 year was assessed in 20 participants with MCI. T2 distributions were modelled in the hippocampus and thalamus using log-logistic distribution giving measures of log-median value (midpoint; T2μ) and distribution width (heterogeneity; T2σ). RESULTS We show an increase in T2 heterogeneity (T2σ; p < .0001) in MCI compared to healthy controls, which was not seen with midpoint (T2μ; p = .149) in the hippocampus and thalamus. Hippocampal T2 heterogeneity predicted cognitive decline over 1 year in MCI participants (p = .018), but midpoint (p = .132) and volume (p = .315) did not. Age affects T2, but the effects described here are significant even after correcting for age. CONCLUSIONS We show that T2 heterogeneity can identify subtle changes in microstructural integrity of brain tissue in MCI and predict cognitive decline over a year. We describe a new model that considers the competing effects of factors that both increase and decrease T2. These two opposing forces suggest that previous conclusions based on T2 midpoint may have obscured the true potential of T2 as a marker of subtle neuropathology. We propose that T2 heterogeneity reflects microstructural integrity with potential to be a widely used early biomarker of conditions such as AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfie R Wearn
- Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
- Institute of Clinical Neurosciences, North Bristol NHS Trust, Bristol, UK.
| | - Volkan Nurdal
- Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | | | - Michael J Knight
- School of Psychological Science, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | | | - Serena Dillon
- Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Demitra Tsivos
- Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | | | - Elizabeth J Coulthard
- Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Institute of Clinical Neurosciences, North Bristol NHS Trust, Bristol, UK
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20
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Nanodiamond phantoms mimicking human liver: perspective to calibration of T1 relaxation time in magnetic resonance imaging. Sci Rep 2020; 10:6446. [PMID: 32296116 PMCID: PMC7160200 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-63581-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2019] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Phantoms of biological tissues are materials that mimic the properties of real tissues. This study shows the development of phantoms with nanodiamond particles for calibration of T1 relaxation time in magnetic resonance imaging. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a commonly used and non-invasive method of detecting pathological changes inside the human body. Nevertheless, before a new MRI device is approved for use, it is necessary to calibrate it properly and to check its technical parameters. In this article, we present phantoms of tissue with diamond nanoparticles dedicated to magnetic resonance calibration. The method of producing phantoms has been described. As a result of our research, we obtained phantoms that were characterized by the relaxation time T1 the same as the relaxation time of the human tissue T1 = 810.5 ms. Furthermore, the use of diamond nanoparticles in phantoms allowed us to tune the T1 value of the phantoms which open the way to elaborated phantoms of other tissues in the future.
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21
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Ceccarini J, Bourgeois S, Van Weehaeghe D, Goffin K, Vandenberghe R, Vandenbulcke M, Sunaert S, Van Laere K. Direct prospective comparison of 18F-FDG PET and arterial spin labelling MR using simultaneous PET/MR in patients referred for diagnosis of dementia. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 2020; 47:2142-2154. [PMID: 31960098 DOI: 10.1007/s00259-020-04694-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2019] [Accepted: 01/12/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE 18F-FDG PET is routinely used as an imaging marker in the early and differential diagnosis of dementing disorders and has incremental value over the clinical neurological and neuropsychological evaluation. Perfusion MR imaging by means of arterial spin labelling (ASL) is an alternative modality to indirectly measure neuronal functioning and could be used as complement measurement in a single MR session in the workup of dementia. Using simultaneous PET-MR, we performed a direct head-to-head comparison between enhanced multiplane tagging ASL (eASL) and 18F-FDG PET in a true clinical context of subjects referred for suspicion of neurodegenerative dementia. METHODS Twenty-seven patients underwent a 20-min 18F-FDG PET/MR and simultaneously acquired eASL on a GE Signa PET/MR. Data were compared with 30 screened age- and gender-matched healthy controls. Both integral eASL and 18F-FDG datasets were analysed visually by two readers unaware of the final clinical diagnosis, either in normal/abnormal classes, or full differential diagnosis (normal, Alzheimer type dementia [AD], dementia with Lewy Bodies [LBD], frontotemporal dementia [FTD] or other). Reader confidence was assessed with a rating scale (range 1-4). Data were also analysed semiquantitatively by VOI and voxel-based analyses. RESULTS The ground truth diagnosis for the patient group resulted in 14 patients with a neurodegenerative cognitive disorder (AD, FTD, LBD) and 13 patients with no arguments for an underlying neurodegenerative cause. Visual analysis resulted in equal specificity (0.70) for differentiating normal and abnormal cases between the two modalities, but in a higher sensitivity (0.93), confidence rating (0.64) and interobserver agreement for 18F-FDG PET compared with eASL. The same was true for assigning a specific differential diagnosis (sensitivity: and 0.39 for 18F-FDG PET and eASL, respectively). Semiquantitative analyses revealed prototypical patterns for AD and FTD, with both higher volumes of abnormality and intensity differences on 18F-FDG PET. CONCLUSION In a direct head-to-head comparison on a simultaneous GE Signa PET/MR, 18F-FDG PET performed better compared with ASL in terms of sensitivity and reader confidence, as well as volume and intensity of abnormalities. However, using pure semiquantitative analysis, similar diagnostic accuracy between the two modalities was obtained. Therefore, ASL may still serve as complement to neuroreceptor or protein deposition PET studies when a single simultaneous investigation is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny Ceccarini
- Department of Imaging and Pathology, University Hospitals Leuven and KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Sophie Bourgeois
- Division of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Donatienne Van Weehaeghe
- Department of Imaging and Pathology, University Hospitals Leuven and KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.,Division of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Karolien Goffin
- Department of Imaging and Pathology, University Hospitals Leuven and KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.,Division of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Rik Vandenberghe
- Department of Neurology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Stefan Sunaert
- Department of Imaging and Pathology, University Hospitals Leuven and KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.,Department of Radiology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Koen Van Laere
- Department of Imaging and Pathology, University Hospitals Leuven and KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.,Division of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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22
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Protein-based amide proton transfer-weighted MR imaging of amnestic mild cognitive impairment. NEUROIMAGE-CLINICAL 2019; 25:102153. [PMID: 31901792 PMCID: PMC6948365 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2019.102153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2019] [Revised: 12/07/2019] [Accepted: 12/26/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Amide proton transfer-weighted (APTw) MRI is a novel molecular imaging technique that can noninvasively detect endogenous cellular proteins and peptides in tissue. Here, we demonstrate the feasibility of protein-based APTw MRI in characterizing amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI). Eighteen patients with confirmed aMCI and 18 matched normal controls were scanned at 3 Tesla. The APTw, as well as conventional magnetization transfer ratio (MTR), signal differences between aMCI and normal groups were assessed by the independent samples t-test, and the receiver-operator-characteristic analysis was used to assess the diagnostic performance of APTw. When comparing the normal control group, aMCI brains typically had relatively higher APTw signals. Quantitatively, APTw intensity values were significantly higher in nine of 12 regions of interest in aMCI patients than in normal controls. The largest areas under the receiver-operator-characteristic curves were 0.88 (gray matter in occipital lobe) and 0.82 (gray matter in temporal lobe, white matter in occipital lobe) in diagnosing aMCI patients. On the contrary, MTR intensity values were significantly higher in only three of 12 regions of interest in the aMCI group. Additionally, the age dependency analyses revealed that these cross-sectional APTw/MTR signals had an increasing trend with age in most brain regions for normal controls, but a decreasing trend with age in most brain regions for aMCI patients. Our early results show the potential of the APTw signal as a new imaging biomarker for the noninvasive molecular diagnosis of aMCI.
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23
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Dorsal hippocampal changes in T2 relaxation times are associated with early spatial cognitive deficits in 5XFAD mice. Brain Res Bull 2019; 153:150-161. [PMID: 31422072 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2019.08.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2018] [Revised: 08/12/2019] [Accepted: 08/13/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
T2 relaxation time (T2) alterations may serve as markers for early detection and disease progression monitoring by reflecting brain microstructural integrity in Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the characteristics of T2 alterations during the early stage of AD remain elusive. We explored T2 alterations and their possible correlations with cognitive function in 5XFAD mice at early ages (1, 2, 3, and 5 months of age). Voxel-based analysis (VBA) and region of interest (ROI) analysis showed a decreased T2 in the hippocampus of 2-, 3-, and 5-month-old 5XFAD mice compared to those of controls. The dorsal hippocampal T2 decreased earlier than the ventral hippocampus T2. A significant correlation was observed between Morris water maze (MWM) test cognitive behavior and the dorsal hippocampus T2 in 5XFAD mice. These results indicated that the microstructural integrity of brain tissues, particularly the hippocampus, was impaired early and the impairment became more extensive and severe during disease progression. Furthermore, the dorsal hippocampus is a crucial component involved in spatial cognition impairment in young 5XFAD mice.
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24
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Guest FL. Early Detection and Treatment of Patients with Alzheimer's Disease: Future Perspectives. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2019; 1118:295-317. [PMID: 30747429 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-05542-4_15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease affects approximately 6% of people over the age of 65 years. It is characterized as chronic degeneration of cortical neurons, with loss of memory, cognition and executive functions. As the disease progresses, it is accompanied by accumulation of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in key areas of the brain, leading to a loss of neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus, along with changes in the levels of essential neurotransmitters such as acetylcholine and glutamate. Individuals with concomitant diseases such as depression, diabetes and cardiovascular disorders have a higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, and those who have a healthier diet and partake in regular exercise and intellectual stimulation have a lower risk of developing the disorder. This chapter describes the advances made in early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease as this could help to improve outcomes for the patients by facilitating earlier treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca L Guest
- Taunton and Somerset NHS Trust, Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton, Somerset, UK.
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25
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Buonincontri G, Biagi L, Retico A, Cecchi P, Cosottini M, Gallagher FA, Gómez PA, Graves MJ, McLean MA, Riemer F, Schulte RF, Tosetti M, Zaccagna F, Kaggie JD. Multi-site repeatability and reproducibility of MR fingerprinting of the healthy brain at 1.5 and 3.0 T. Neuroimage 2019; 195:362-372. [PMID: 30923028 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2019.03.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2018] [Revised: 03/08/2019] [Accepted: 03/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Fully-quantitative MR imaging methods are useful for longitudinal characterization of disease and assessment of treatment efficacy. However, current quantitative MRI protocols have not been widely adopted in the clinic, mostly due to lengthy scan times. Magnetic Resonance Fingerprinting (MRF) is a new technique that can reconstruct multiple parametric maps from a single fast acquisition in the transient state of the MR signal. Due to the relative novelty of this technique, the repeatability and reproducibility of quantitative measurements obtained using MRF has not been extensively studied. Our study acquired test/retest data from the brains of nine healthy volunteers, each scanned on five MRI systems (two at 3.0 T and three at 1.5 T, all from a single vendor) located at two different centers. The pulse sequence and reconstruction algorithm were the same for all acquisitions. After registration of the MRF-derived M0, T1 and T2 maps to an anatomical atlas, coefficients-of-variation (CVs) were computed to assess test/retest repeatability and inter-site reproducibility in each voxel, while a General Linear Model (GLM) was used to determine the voxel-wise variability between all confounders, which included test/retest, subject, field strength and site. Our analysis demonstrated an excellent repeatability (CVs of 2-3% for T1, 5-8% for T2, 3% for normalized-M0) and a good reproducibility (CVs of 3-8% for T1, 8-14% for T2, 5% for normalized-M0) in grey and white matter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guido Buonincontri
- IMAGO7 Foundation, Pisa, Italy; IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, Pisa, Italy
| | - Laura Biagi
- IMAGO7 Foundation, Pisa, Italy; IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Paolo Cecchi
- Department of Radiology, University of Pisa, Italy
| | | | | | - Pedro A Gómez
- Munich School of Bioengineering, Technical University of Munich, Germany
| | - Martin J Graves
- Department of Radiology, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Mary A McLean
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Frank Riemer
- Department of Radiology, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | | | - Michela Tosetti
- IMAGO7 Foundation, Pisa, Italy; IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, Pisa, Italy.
| | - Fulvio Zaccagna
- Department of Radiology, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Joshua D Kaggie
- Department of Radiology, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
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26
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Finnegan ME, Visanji NP, Romero-Canelon I, House E, Rajan S, Mosselmans JFW, Hazrati LN, Dobson J, Collingwood JF. Synchrotron XRF imaging of Alzheimer's disease basal ganglia reveals linear dependence of high-field magnetic resonance microscopy on tissue iron concentration. J Neurosci Methods 2019; 319:28-39. [PMID: 30851339 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2019.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2018] [Revised: 03/02/2019] [Accepted: 03/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chemical imaging of the human brain has great potential for diagnostic and monitoring purposes. The heterogeneity of human brain iron distribution, and alterations to this distribution in Alzheimer's disease, indicate iron as a potential endogenous marker. The influence of iron on certain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) parameters increases with magnetic field, but is under-explored in human brain tissues above 7 T. NEW METHOD Magnetic resonance microscopy at 9.4 T is used to calculate parametric images of chemically-unfixed post-mortem tissue from Alzheimer's cases (n = 3) and healthy controls (n = 2). Iron-rich regions including caudate nucleus, putamen, globus pallidus and substantia nigra are analysed prior to imaging of total iron distribution with synchrotron X-ray fluorescence mapping. Iron fluorescence calibration is achieved with adjacent tissue blocks, analysed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry or graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy. RESULTS Correlated MR images and fluorescence maps indicate linear dependence of R2, R2* and R2' on iron at 9.4 T, for both disease and control, as follows: [R2(s-1) = 0.072[Fe] + 20]; [R2*(s-1) = 0.34[Fe] + 37]; [R2'(s-1) = 0.26[Fe] + 16] for Fe in μg/g tissue (wet weight). COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHODS This method permits simultaneous non-destructive imaging of most bioavailable elements. Iron is the focus of the present study as it offers strong scope for clinical evaluation; the approach may be used more widely to evaluate the impact of chemical elements on clinical imaging parameters. CONCLUSION The results at 9.4 T are in excellent quantitative agreement with predictions from experiments performed at lower magnetic fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary E Finnegan
- Department of Imaging, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UK; Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Naomi P Visanji
- The Edmond J Safra Program in Parkinson's Disease and the Morton & Gloria Shulman Movement Disorders Clinic, Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, M5T 2S8, Canada
| | - Isolda Romero-Canelon
- School of Pharmacy, Institute of Clinical Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | - Emily House
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YQ, UK
| | - Surya Rajan
- School of Engineering, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
| | | | | | - Jon Dobson
- J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Joanna F Collingwood
- School of Engineering, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK; Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
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