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Microbleeds in postmortem brains of patients with Alzheimer disease: a T2*-weighted gradient-echo 7.0 T magnetic
Jacques L De Reuck1, Charlotte Cordonnier, Vincent Deramecourt
1Université Lille Nord de France, UDSL, EA 1046, Lille University Hospital, Lille, France. dereuck.j@gmail.com
Abstract:
This study aims to determine the distribution and to quantify microbleeds (MBs) in postmortem brains of patients with Alzheimer disease (AD) on T2*-weighted gradient-echo 7.0 T magnetic resonance imaging. Twenty-eight AD brains were compared with 5 controls. The AD brains were subdivided further: 18 without and 10 with additional severe cerebral amyloid angiopathy (AD-CAA). The distribution and the number of cortical focal signal intensity losses, representing MBs, were assessed on coronal sections at the frontal, the central, and the occipital level of a cerebral hemisphere. MBs prevailed in the central sections (P=0.005) of AD brains without CAA, whereas in AD-CAA brains, they were more frequent in all coronal sections (P≤0.002). They prevailed in the deep cortical layers of the AD brains and of the controls (P≤0.03). They were significantly increased in all cortical layers of the AD-CAA brains (P≤0.04), compared with the controls. MBs prevalence in brains of AD patients had a different topographic distribution according to the absence or presence of severe CAA.
Insights
This study investigated microbleeds (MBs) in Alzheimer disease (AD) brains using 7.0 T MRI. MBs distribution varied based on the presence of severe cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) in AD patients.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Neuropathology
- Alzheimer Disease Research
Background:
- Alzheimer disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles.
- Microbleeds (MBs) are common in neurodegenerative diseases, but their distribution in AD, particularly with comorbid cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), requires further investigation.
- High-field MRI offers enhanced visualization of neuroimaging biomarkers like MBs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine and quantify the distribution of microbleeds (MBs) in postmortem Alzheimer disease (AD) brains.
- To compare MB distribution in AD brains with and without severe cerebral amyloid angiopathy (AD-CAA).
- To assess MB prevalence across different cortical layers and anatomical regions.
Main Methods:
- Postmortem brains from 28 Alzheimer disease (AD) patients and 5 controls were analyzed.
- T2*-weighted gradient-echo 7.0 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was employed.
- Microbleeds (MBs) were quantified and their distribution assessed on coronal sections at frontal, central, and occipital levels, and within cortical layers.
Main Results:
- Microbleeds (MBs) were more prevalent in central sections of AD brains without severe cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA).
- In AD-CAA brains, MBs were more frequent across all coronal sections compared to AD brains without CAA.
- MBs were significantly increased in all cortical layers of AD-CAA brains compared to controls, and prevailed in deep cortical layers of AD brains and controls.
Conclusions:
- The topographic distribution of microbleeds (MBs) in Alzheimer disease (AD) brains differs based on the presence or absence of severe cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA).
- High-field MRI is effective in characterizing microbleed patterns in AD neuropathology.
- Understanding MB distribution may offer insights into AD pathogenesis and progression, especially when complicated by CAA.
