Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 19, 2026
09:33
Diffusion Tensor Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Analysis of Neurodegenerative Diseases
Published on: July 28, 2013
Mild cognitive impairment: apparent diffusion coefficient in regional gray matter and white matter structures
Kimberly M Ray1, Huali Wang, Yong Chu
1Department of Radiological Sciences, Tu and Yuen Center for Functional Onco-Imaging, University of California, Irvine, 164 Irvine Hall, Irvine, CA 92697-5020, USA.
Radiology
|September 23, 2006
Summary
This study found higher apparent diffusion coefficients (ADC) in the hippocampus and temporal lobe gray matter of individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Elevated hippocampal ADC correlated with poorer memory recall in MCI patients.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Radiology
- Cognitive Neuroscience
Background:
- Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is characterized by cognitive deficits.
- Identifying early biomarkers for MCI is crucial for timely intervention.
- Diffusion MRI offers insights into brain tissue microstructure.
Purpose of the Study:
- To prospectively evaluate regional alterations in apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) in gray and white matter.
- To investigate brain regions implicated in mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
- To assess ADC changes in cortical and subcortical structures in MCI.
Main Methods:
- 13 patients with MCI and 13 healthy controls underwent MRI.
- Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) was measured in specific brain regions (hippocampus, corpus callosum, etc.).
- Automated template masking and skeleton-based segmentation were employed for analysis.
Main Results:
- Patients with MCI showed higher ADCs in the hippocampus, temporal lobe gray matter, and corpus callosum compared to controls.
- Higher hippocampal ADC values significantly correlated with worse performance on memory recall tasks.
- The findings suggest microstructural changes in specific brain regions in MCI.
Conclusions:
- Automated template masking and skeleton-based segmentation effectively analyze regional ADC values.
- Diffusion MRI can detect microstructural alterations in gray and white matter in MCI.
- These findings contribute to understanding the neurobiology of MCI.
Related Concept Videos
01:22Dementia l: Introduction
Dementia is an acquired, progressive syndrome characterized by a decline in multiple cognitive domains severe enough to impair daily functioning and reduce independence. Although memory loss is a central feature, the diagnosis requires additional deficits involving language, executive function, visuospatial skills, judgment, calculation, or abstract reasoning. These cognitive impairments reflect underlying neurodegenerative or vascular processes that gradually disrupt neuronal networks...
01:17Assessment of Diffusion and Perfusion
Understanding and evaluating diffusion and perfusion is critical in assessing a patient's respiratory and circulatory health. These processes play key roles in maintaining the body's internal environment, ensuring that tissues receive adequate oxygen while waste products are efficiently removed.
The Role of Diffusion in Respiration
Diffusion is the process by which molecules move from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration. In the respiratory system, this principle...
The Role of Diffusion in Respiration
Diffusion is the process by which molecules move from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration. In the respiratory system, this principle...
01:23Alzheimer Disease ll: Pathophysiology
Alzheimer disease involves structural changes in the brain that begin long before symptoms appear. The most distinctive features are extracellular neuritic plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles.Neuritic plaques form in the cerebral cortex and around blood vessels. These plaques contain a dense core of beta-amyloid (Aβ)—a toxic protein fragment that clumps outside neurons. The core is surrounded by damaged neuronal extensions, as well as reactive astrocytes and microglia. Abnormal...
01:29Alzheimer Disease l: Introduction
Alzheimer disease is a chronic, progressive, and irreversible neurodegenerative disorder and the most common cause of dementia in older adults. It leads to gradual neuronal loss, causing cognitive decline, behavioral changes, and loss of functional independence.Risk Factors and EtiologyThe disease is multifactorial. Age is the strongest risk factor, with prevalence doubling every 5 years after age 65. Genetic factors include mutations in genes such as APP, PSEN1, and PSEN2, which are associated...