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Imaging Neurodegeneration: Steps Toward Brain Network-Based Pathophysiology and Its Potential for Multi-modal Imaging
C Sorg1,2,3, J Göttler4,5, C Zimmer4
1Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Ismaningerstr. 22, 81675, München, Germany. c.sorg@lrz.tum.de.
Clinical Neuroradiology
|July 29, 2015
Summary
Neuroimaging reveals that impaired brain network connectivity is central to neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's. This understanding supports developing new multimodal diagnostic tools for early detection and characterization.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Medical Imaging
- Neurology
Background:
- Multi-modal brain imaging offers diverse in vivo perspectives on brain disorders.
- Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) is key for studying intrinsic brain networks in neurodegeneration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review key findings in intrinsic network-based pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases.
- To highlight the potential of network-based multimodal tools for diagnostic applications.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative review of selected multi-modal imaging studies.
- Focus on neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Alzheimer's disease (AD).
Main Results:
- Functional connectivity is selectively and progressively impaired in AD, preceding symptom onset in critical networks.
- Amyloid-β plaque distribution and atrophy correlate with network connectivity changes.
- Similar network pathophysiology patterns are observed across various neurodegenerative disorders.
Conclusions:
- Neurodegeneration spread is intrinsically linked to intrinsic brain network functional connectivity.
- These insights enable the development of novel multi-modal, network-based diagnostic tools for individual patient assessment.
