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Visualization of Amyloid β Deposits in the Human Brain with Matrix-assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Imaging Mass Spectrometry
Published on: March 7, 2019
Cerebral amyloidosis: postmortem detection with human 7.0-T MR imaging system.
Sanneke van Rooden1, Marion L C Maat-Schieman, Rob J A Nabuurs
1Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, C3-Q, PO Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands. S.van_Rooden@lumc.nl
Radiology
|October 1, 2009
Summary
Whole-body 7.0-T MRI effectively detects cerebral amyloid beta deposition in postmortem brains. This technique shows promise for identifying Alzheimer disease and cerebral amyloid angiopathy in living patients.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Neuropathology
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Background:
- Cerebral amyloid beta deposition is a hallmark of Alzheimer disease (AD), Down syndrome, and cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA).
- Accurate detection of amyloid deposition is crucial for diagnosis and understanding these neurological conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the capability of whole-body 7.0-T magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in differentiating cerebral cortex features.
- To assess MR imaging's ability to detect amyloid beta deposition in postmortem human brain specimens.
Main Methods:
- Formalin-fixed brain tissue from subjects with AD, CAA, and controls were imaged using T2- and T2*-weighted 7.0-T MR imaging.
- Images were analyzed for hypointense foci and cortical inhomogeneity.
- Sensitivity, specificity, and kappa values were calculated to assess detection accuracy.
Main Results:
- High-resolution T2*-weighted MR images revealed hypointense foci and/or cortical inhomogeneity in all specimens with amyloid beta deposition.
- These characteristic MR imaging features were absent in control specimens lacking amyloid deposition.
Conclusions:
- Postmortem 7.0-T MR imaging demonstrates susceptibility-weighted changes in the cerebral cortex associated with cerebral amyloidosis.
- This finding suggests the potential for in vivo radiologic detection of cerebral amyloid beta deposition using 7.0-T MR imaging.
