Detecting short-interval longitudinal cortical atrophy in neurodegenerative dementias via cluster scanning: A proof

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 14, 2026

Identification of Disease-related Spatial Covariance Patterns using Neuroimaging Data
14:27

Identification of Disease-related Spatial Covariance Patterns using Neuroimaging Data

Published on: June 26, 2013

15.6K

Yuta Katsumi1, Michael Brickhouse1, Lindsay C Hanford2

  • 1Frontotemporal Disorders Unit, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA.

Medrxiv : the Preprint Server for Health Sciences
|April 1, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Cluster scanning with multiple MRI scans improves detection of brain atrophy in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's. This method reliably tracks cortical thickness changes over short 3-month intervals in individual patients.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroimaging
  • Neurology
  • Biomedical Engineering

Background:

  • Structural MRI measures regional brain atrophy, crucial for diagnosing neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration (FTLD).
  • Traditional MRI morphometry faces challenges in reliably detecting longitudinal atrophy over short periods due to measurement errors.
  • Accurate detection of early neurodegeneration is vital for timely intervention and disease management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the effectiveness of cluster scanning, using multiple rapid MRI acquisitions, for detecting longitudinal cortical atrophy over 3- and 6-month intervals.
  • To assess the utility of this advanced MRI technique in individual patients with mild cognitive impairment or dementia.
  • To determine if cluster scanning enhances the sensitivity of morphometric estimates for tracking neurodegeneration.

Main Methods:

  • Employed a fast 1.2-mm T1-weighted multi-echo magnetization-prepared rapid gradient echo (MEMPRAGE) sequence on a 3 Tesla scanner.
  • Acquired up to 32 MEMPRAGE scans per timepoint across four sessions over two days for four participants.
  • Utilized linear mixed-effects models to analyze cortical thickness changes and identify regions of significant atrophy.

Main Results:

  • Statistically significant longitudinal cortical atrophy (decreased cortical thickness) was detected in vulnerable regions within 3 months in all participants.
  • Preferential vulnerability of specific cortical regions to atrophy was observed over 3-month intervals in three participants.
  • Cluster scanning demonstrated the ability to detect atrophy in core neurodegenerative regions over short intervals.

Conclusions:

  • Cluster scanning, by pooling multiple MRI morphometric estimates, offers a reliable method for detecting longitudinal cortical atrophy over short intervals.
  • This approach shows promise for improving the monitoring of neurodegenerative dementias, including AD and FTLD, in individual patients.
  • These findings provide proof-of-concept for using rapid, repeated MRI acquisitions to enhance the detection of subtle neurodegenerative changes.
Keywords:
Alzheimer’s diseasecortical thicknessfrontotemporal lobar degenerationmagnetic resonance imagingprecision neuroimaging

More Related Videos

Whole-brain Segmentation and Change-point Analysis of Anatomical Brain MRI—Application in Premanifest Huntington's Disease09:06

Whole-brain Segmentation and Change-point Analysis of Anatomical Brain MRI—Application in Premanifest Huntington's Disease

Published on: June 9, 2018

12.1K
Abbiategrasso Brain Bank Protocol for Collecting, Processing and Characterizing Aging Brains12:28

Abbiategrasso Brain Bank Protocol for Collecting, Processing and Characterizing Aging Brains

Published on: June 3, 2020

17.1K

Related Concept Videos

Alzheimer Disease l: Introduction01:29

Alzheimer Disease l: Introduction

Alzheimer disease is a chronic, progressive, and irreversible neurodegenerative disorder and the most common cause of dementia in older adults. It leads to gradual neuronal loss, causing cognitive decline, behavioral changes, and loss of functional independence.Risk Factors and EtiologyThe disease is multifactorial. Age is the strongest risk factor, with prevalence doubling every 5 years after age 65. Genetic factors include mutations in genes such as APP, PSEN1, and PSEN2, which are associated...
Dementia l: Introduction01:22

Dementia l: Introduction

Dementia is an acquired, progressive syndrome characterized by a decline in multiple cognitive domains severe enough to impair daily functioning and reduce independence. Although memory loss is a central feature, the diagnosis requires additional deficits involving language, executive function, visuospatial skills, judgment, calculation, or abstract reasoning. These cognitive impairments reflect underlying neurodegenerative or vascular processes that gradually disrupt neuronal networks...