Journal of Alzheimers Disease supplement explores brain imaging research
A new supplement to the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, “Imaging the Alzheimer Brain,” contains 31 papers that discuss the advances in imaging methodologies that are being used to understand, diagnose and treat Alzheimer’s disease (AD).
Among the topics covered in the supplement are:
In one paper, “Alzheimer’s Prevention Initiative: A Plan to Accelerate the Evaluation of Presymptomatic Treatments,” the authors proposed to evaluate investigational treatments in healthy people who are at the highest imminent risk of developing symptomatic AD based on their age and genetic background. The project would use brain imaging studies, cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers and cognitive measures to evaluate AD-modifying treatments earlier than is otherwise possible and to determine the extent to which the treatment's brain imaging and other biomarker effects predict a clinical benefit, among other outcomes.
Another article, "Relationship Between CSF Biomarkers of Alzheimer's Disease and Rates of Regional Cortical Thinning in ADNI Data," showed how investigators from the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco, the University of California and the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, tested the association between rates of regional brain cortex thinning and reduced amyloid (AB1-42) and higher tau concentrations. Using data from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative, they found that these biomarkers were associated with increased rates of brain tissue loss, and that the patterns varied across the healthy elderly and the mildly cognitively impaired.
"Ultimately, the prospects for neuroimaging to enhance clinical care in AD are bright as researchers collaborate and clinicians become informed about innovations and advances," George Perry, PhD, editor-in-chief, Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, and dean and professor, College of Sciences, University of Texas at San Antonio, said in the statement.
Among the topics covered in the supplement are:
- pathology and pathophysiological bases of AD;
- structural and cerebral blood flow imaging; metabolism, amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in vascular co-morbidity and AD;
- current advances in functional MRI for detecting AD;
- electromagnetic brain mapping; and
- magnetic resonance spectroscopy.
In one paper, “Alzheimer’s Prevention Initiative: A Plan to Accelerate the Evaluation of Presymptomatic Treatments,” the authors proposed to evaluate investigational treatments in healthy people who are at the highest imminent risk of developing symptomatic AD based on their age and genetic background. The project would use brain imaging studies, cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers and cognitive measures to evaluate AD-modifying treatments earlier than is otherwise possible and to determine the extent to which the treatment's brain imaging and other biomarker effects predict a clinical benefit, among other outcomes.
Another article, "Relationship Between CSF Biomarkers of Alzheimer's Disease and Rates of Regional Cortical Thinning in ADNI Data," showed how investigators from the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco, the University of California and the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, tested the association between rates of regional brain cortex thinning and reduced amyloid (AB1-42) and higher tau concentrations. Using data from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative, they found that these biomarkers were associated with increased rates of brain tissue loss, and that the patterns varied across the healthy elderly and the mildly cognitively impaired.
"Ultimately, the prospects for neuroimaging to enhance clinical care in AD are bright as researchers collaborate and clinicians become informed about innovations and advances," George Perry, PhD, editor-in-chief, Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, and dean and professor, College of Sciences, University of Texas at San Antonio, said in the statement.
Evan Godt, Writer
Evan joined TriMed in 2011, writing primarily for Health Imaging. Prior to diving into medical journalism, Evan worked for the Nine Network of Public Media in St. Louis. He also has worked in public relations and education. Evan studied journalism at the University of Missouri, with an emphasis on broadcast media.