Perfusion Imaging and Inflammation Biomarkers Provide Complementary Information in Alzheimer's Disease

Single photon emission tomography (SPECT) can detect early changes in brain perfusion to support the diagnosis of dementia. Inflammation is a driver for dementia progression and measures of inflammation may further support dementia diagnosis.

In this study, we assessed whether combining imaging with markers of inflammation improves prediction of the likelihood of Alzheimer's disease (AD).

We analyzed 91 participants datasets (Institutional Ethics Approval 20/NW/0222). AD biomarkers and markers of inflammation were measured in cerebrospinal fluid. Statistical parametric mapping was used to quantify brain perfusion differences in perfusion SPECT images. Logistic regression models were trained to evaluate the ability of imaging and inflammation markers, both individually and combined, to predict AD.

Regional perfusion reduction in the precuneus and medial temporal regions predicted Aβ42 status. Increase in inflammation markers predicted tau and neurodegeneration. Matrix metalloproteneinase-10, a marker of blood-brain barrier regulation, was associated with perfusion reduction in the right temporal lobe. Adenosine deaminase, an enzyme involved in sleep homeostasis and inflammation, was the strongest predictor of neurodegeneration with an odds ratio of 10.3. The area under the receiver operator characteristic curve for the logistic regression model was 0.76 for imaging and 0.76 for inflammation. Combining inflammation and imaging markers yielded an area under the curve of 0.85.

Study results showed that markers of brain perfusion imaging and markers of inflammation provide complementary information in AD evaluation. Inflammation markers better predict tau status while perfusion imaging measures represent amyloid status. Combining imaging and inflammation improves AD prediction.