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Full- versus Sub-Regional Quantification of Amyloid-Beta Load on Mouse Brain Sections
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Quantitative evaluation of Alzheimer's disease
Anna Caroli1, Giovanni B Frisoni
1LENITEM Laboratory of Epidemiology, Neuroimaging, and Telemedicine - IRCCS S. Giovanni di Dio-FBF, Brescia, Italy.
Expert Review of Medical Devices
|September 16, 2009
Summary
Diagnosing early Alzheimer's disease (AD) is challenging. Neuroimaging offers advanced tools for in vivo identification and quantification of AD biomarkers, aiding early detection and potential therapeutic intervention.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Radiology
- Biomarker Discovery
Background:
- Definitive Alzheimer's disease (AD) diagnosis requires histopathology, which is challenging in early stages.
- Early AD detection is crucial for effective therapeutic intervention.
- Neuroimaging plays a vital role in identifying and quantifying AD in vivo, particularly in preclinical stages.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide an overview of neuroimaging tools for Alzheimer's disease diagnosis.
- To highlight the role of neuroimaging in quantitative evaluation of AD biomarkers.
- To discuss current and future clinical applications of neuroimaging in AD diagnosis.
Main Methods:
- Review of various neuroimaging techniques including structural, functional, microstructural, and amyloid imaging.
- Discussion of evolving diagnostic criteria for AD emphasizing quantitative biomarkers.
- Exploration of different imaging tools from visual rating scales to computerized algorithms.
Main Results:
- Neuroimaging enables quantification of brain volume loss, detection of cerebral dysfunction, assessment of microstructures, and detection of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles.
- Quantitative evaluation of biomarkers, primarily from imaging, is increasingly required by revised AD diagnostic criteria.
- A range of neuroimaging tools are available and under development for AD diagnosis.
Conclusions:
- Neuroimaging is essential for the early and in vivo diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease.
- Advanced neuroimaging techniques provide quantitative biomarkers crucial for current and future AD diagnostic criteria.
- The discussed neuroimaging tools hold significant potential for routine clinical practice in AD diagnosis.
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