Neurite Orientation Dispersion and Density Imaging in Psychiatric Disorders: A Systematic Literature Review and a
Nina Vanessa Kraguljac1, Michele Guerreri2, Molly Jordan Strickland1
1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama.
Biological Psychiatry Global Open Science
|January 30, 2023
Summary
Advanced MRI techniques like neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI) reveal widespread brain microstructure abnormalities in psychiatric disorders. This offers new insights into disease mechanisms and potential biomarker development.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Major psychiatric disorders lack definitive neuropathologies.
- Postmortem studies indicate microstructural (cellular) changes in neurons and glia.
- In vivo advanced MRI techniques can map brain microstructure.
Purpose of the Study:
- Systematically review case-control studies using NODDI in psychiatric disorders.
- Assess brain microstructure abnormalities in psychiatric conditions.
- Review technical aspects of NODDI.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of 18 case-control studies.
- Utilized neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI).
- Focused on brain microstructure in psychiatric disorders.
Main Results:
- Found general abnormal gray and white matter microstructure across psychiatric diagnoses.
- Observed significant variability in microstructure patterns within and between diagnostic groups.
- Identified associations between brain microstructure and phenotypic variables.
Conclusions:
- NODDI effectively detects subtle brain microstructure abnormalities in psychiatric patients.
- NODDI indices may offer a direct link to pathophysiological processes.
- This method can advance mechanistic understanding and biomarker development for psychiatric disorders.
