Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Based Biomarkers for Neurodegenerative Diseases

Area of Science:

• Neuroimaging
• Biomarkers
• Neurodegenerative Diseases

Background:

• Aging societies face increasing neurodegenerative disease prevalence.
• Early detection biomarkers are crucial for timely intervention.
• Diffusion MRI infers brain microstructural characteristics via water diffusion.

Purpose of the Study:

• Review advanced diffusion MRI technologies.
• Evaluate their potential as biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases.
• Highlight applications in early diagnosis and disease progression monitoring.

Main Methods:

• Overview of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and its limitations.
• Introduction to advanced techniques: neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI), diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI), and free-water imaging (FWI).
• Discussion of how these methods overcome DTI constraints.

Main Results:

• Advanced diffusion MRI techniques offer enhanced sensitivity to microstructural changes.
• NODDI, DKI, and FWI provide more detailed insights into axonal density, myelination, and tissue complexity.
• These methods show promise in differentiating neurodegenerative conditions.

Conclusions:

• Advanced diffusion MRI techniques represent valuable tools for neurodegenerative disease research.
• They hold significant potential as biomarkers for early diagnosis and tracking disease progression.
• Further validation is needed to establish their clinical utility.