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In vivo imaging of tau pathology using multi-parametric quantitative MRI
J A Wells1, J M O'Callaghan1, H E Holmes1
1UCL Centre for Advanced Biomedical Imaging, Division of Medicine and Institute of Child Health, University College London, UK.
Neuroimage
|February 22, 2015
Summary
This study uses advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques to detect early signs of tauopathy in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease (AD). These MRI methods offer sensitive biomarkers for tracking disease progression and evaluating potential treatments.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biomedical Imaging
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Alzheimer's disease (AD) and tauopathies pose significant global health challenges.
- Effective treatments require reliable biomarkers for disease monitoring and drug efficacy assessment.
- Current biomarkers often lack sensitivity to early-stage or multifaceted tau pathology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the in vivo pathophysiological phenotype of the rTg4510 mouse model of tauopathy using a multi-parametric MRI approach.
- To identify translatable MRI biomarkers sensitive to tau pathology and its modulation by potential therapeutics.
- To assess the utility of advanced MRI techniques in detecting early pathological changes preceding structural damage.
Main Methods:
- Employed a suite of five translatable MRI techniques: structural imaging, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), arterial spin labelling (ASL), chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST), and glucose CEST.
- Applied these techniques to the rTg4510 mouse model of tauopathy and age-matched controls.
- Analyzed MRI data to identify pathological changes associated with tau accumulation.
Main Results:
- Detected tau-induced pathological changes including grey matter atrophy, increased white matter radial diffusivity, decreased amide proton transfer, and hyperperfusion.
- Demonstrated that these multi-parametric MRI markers effectively discriminate between transgenic and control groups.
- ASL and DTI techniques showed heightened sensitivity to pathological processes preceding detectable structural changes.
Conclusions:
- The multi-parametric MRI approach provides a comprehensive profile of tauopathy neuropathology in vivo.
- Advanced MRI techniques, particularly ASL and DTI, serve as sensitive biomarkers for early disease detection and therapeutic intervention studies.
- This imaging platform offers a promising tool for advancing Alzheimer's disease research and drug development.
