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Tissue microstructural changes in dementia with Lewy bodies revealed by quantitative MRI
Li Su1, Andrew M Blamire, Rosie Watson
1Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Level E4, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, Box 189, CB2 0SP, UK, ls514@cam.ac.uk.
Journal of Neurology
|October 31, 2014
Summary
Quantitative MRI reveals early dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) changes. Specific relaxation times (qT1 and qT2) detect subtle brain alterations, even without visible atrophy, aiding early diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Neurology
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) diagnosis relies on clinical symptoms and conventional imaging.
- Early neuropathological changes in DLB may occur in brain regions without evident atrophy.
- Quantitative MRI parameters like relaxation times may detect subtle microstructural tissue changes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize DLB using quantitative MRI parameters: longitudinal relaxation time (qT1) and transverse relaxation time (qT2).
- To assess the potential of qT1 and qT2 in detecting early, non-atrophic neuropathological changes in DLB.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study comparing 35 DLB subjects with 35 age-matched controls.
- All participants underwent clinical, neuropsychological, and 3T structural and quantitative MRI.
- Quantitative MRI maps were generated using relaxation time mapping; statistical analysis focused on gray matter qT1 and qT2 values.
Main Results:
- Significant alterations in qT1 and qT2 were observed in DLB patients compared to controls.
- qT1 decreases were noted in temporal, parietal, basal ganglia, and hippocampal regions.
- qT2 showed decreases in the left putamen and increases in the left precuneus, with limited overlap with areas of gray matter loss.
Conclusions:
- Quantitative MRI parameters (qT1, qT2) can detect subtle neuropathological changes in DLB, independent of atrophy.
- DLB is associated with predominant changes in posterior brain regions and subcortical structures.
- Quantitative MRI offers a valuable tool to complement existing techniques for early DLB detection and understanding its neurobiology.
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