Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 22, 2026
Hybrid PET/MRI Imaging of Alzheimer's Disease Based on 18F-AV-1451
Published on: April 18, 2025
Comparison study of amyloid PET and voxel-based morphometry analysis in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's
Masaaki Waragai1, Nobuyuki Okamura, Katsutoshi Furukawa
1Department of Geriatrics and Gerontology, Division of Brain Sciences, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.
Abstract:
Two techniques employed for the early diagnosis of dementia are the imaging of amyloid-beta protein using positron emission tomography (PET) and voxel-based morphometry analysis of MRI (VBM-MRI). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical utility of amyloid PET and VBM-MRI for the early diagnosis and tracking of the severity of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The neuritic plaque burden and gray matter losses were evaluated using [11C]BF-227-PET and VBM-MRI in 12 healthy controls, 13 subjects with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), including 6 who converted to AD and 7 who did not convert, and 15 AD patients. The AD patients and the MCI converters exhibited a neocortical retention of BF-227 and parahippocampal gray matter loss shown by VBM-MRI. The MCI converters were more clearly distinguished from the MCI non-converters in BF-227-PET than VBM-MRI. The combined sample of the MCI converters and AD patients showed a significant correlation of MMSE scores with the global gray matter loss, but not with the BF-227 retention. These findings suggest that amyloid PET using [11C]BF-227 is better suited for the prediction of conversion from MCI to AD, while VBM-MRI appears to be better suited for tracking the severity of dementia.
Insights
Amyloid PET imaging using [11C]BF-227 is effective for predicting Alzheimer's disease (AD) progression from mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Voxel-based morphometry MRI (VBM-MRI) is better for tracking dementia severity once AD is established.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Neurology
- Medical Diagnostics
Background:
- Early diagnosis of dementia, particularly Alzheimer's disease (AD), is crucial for timely intervention.
- Amyloid-beta protein imaging via positron emission tomography (PET) and voxel-based morphometry analysis of MRI (VBM-MRI) are emerging techniques for AD assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the clinical utility of amyloid PET ([11C]BF-227) and VBM-MRI for early AD diagnosis.
- To assess the effectiveness of these techniques in tracking AD severity.
Main Methods:
- Compared [11C]BF-227-PET and VBM-MRI in healthy controls, mild cognitive impairment (MCI) subjects (converters and non-converters), and AD patients.
- Assessed neuritic plaque burden and gray matter volume changes.
Main Results:
- AD patients and MCI converters showed neocortical [11C]BF-227 retention and parahippocampal gray matter loss.
- [11C]BF-227-PET distinguished MCI converters from non-converters more effectively than VBM-MRI.
- MMSE scores correlated with global gray matter loss in combined MCI converters and AD patients, but not with [11C]BF-227 retention.
Conclusions:
- Amyloid PET with [11C]BF-227 shows promise for predicting MCI to AD conversion.
- VBM-MRI is more suitable for monitoring the progression of dementia severity in established AD.
