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Updated: May 14, 2026
Lesion Explorer: A Video-guided, Standardized Protocol for Accurate and Reliable MRI-derived Volumetrics in Alzheimer's Disease and Normal Elderly
Published on: April 14, 2014
Voxel-based Morphometry of Brain MRI in Normal Aging and Alzheimer's Disease
1Integrative Brain Imaging Center, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan.
Abstract:
Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) using structural brain MRI has been widely used for assessment of normal aging and Alzheimer's disease (AD). VBM of MRI data comprises segmentation into gray matter, white matter, and cerebrospinal fluid partitions, anatomical standardization of all the images to the same stereotactic space using linear affine transformation and further non-linear warping, smoothing, and finally performing a statistical analysis. Two techniques for VBM are commonly used, optimized VBM using statistical parametric mapping (SPM) 2 or SPM5 with non-linear warping based on discrete cosine transforms and SPM8 plus non-linear warping based on diffeomorphic anatomical registration using exponentiated Lie algebra (DARTEL). In normal aging, most cortical regions prominently in frontal and insular areas have been reported to show age-related gray matter atrophy. In contrast, specific structures such as amygdala, hippocampus, and thalamus have been reported to be preserved in normal aging. On the other hand, VBM studies have demonstrated progression of atrophy mapping upstream to Braak's stages of neurofibrillary tangle deposition in AD. The earliest atrophy takes place in medial temporal structures. Stand-alone VBM software using SPM8 plus DARTEL running on Windows has been newly developed as an adjunct to the clinical assessment of AD. This software provides a Z-score map as a consequence of comparison of a patient's MRI with a normal database.
Insights
Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) software aids Alzheimer's disease (AD) assessment by analyzing brain MRI scans. It detects age-related gray matter atrophy, crucial for early AD diagnosis and monitoring disease progression.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Radiology
- Neurology
Background:
- Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) is a key technique for analyzing structural brain MRI in normal aging and Alzheimer's disease (AD).
- VBM involves image segmentation, standardization, smoothing, and statistical analysis to quantify regional brain volume changes.
- Common VBM techniques include optimized VBM using Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM) and SPM8 with DARTEL (Diffeomorphic Anatomical Registration Exponentiated Lie Algebra).
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce novel VBM software for clinical assessment of Alzheimer's disease.
- To provide a tool for comparing patient MRI data against a normative database.
Main Methods:
- Utilized VBM with SPM8 and DARTEL for non-linear registration of brain MRI data.
- Developed stand-alone software for Windows, integrating these VBM techniques.
- Generated Z-score maps comparing individual patient scans to a database of healthy controls.
Main Results:
- Normal aging is associated with gray matter atrophy in frontal and insular cortical regions.
- Specific structures like the amygdala, hippocampus, and thalamus appear preserved in normal aging.
- In Alzheimer's disease, VBM shows atrophy progression correlating with Braak's stages, beginning in medial temporal structures.
Conclusions:
- The developed VBM software serves as an adjunct tool for the clinical evaluation of Alzheimer's disease.
- This software facilitates the objective assessment of brain atrophy patterns relevant to AD progression.
- The Z-score map output aids in identifying deviations from normal aging patterns, supporting AD diagnosis.
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