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Associations Between Hippocampal Transverse Relaxation Time and Amyloid PET in Cognitively Normal Aging Adults
Yu Veronica Sui1, Arjun V Masurkar2,3,4, Timothy M Shepherd1
1Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA.
Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging : JMRI
|August 22, 2025
Summary
Transverse relaxation time (T2) in the hippocampus correlates with amyloid-beta (Aβ) accumulation in cognitively normal older adults. This suggests T2 may detect early Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology, like neuroinflammation, before cognitive decline.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Alzheimer's Disease Research
- Aging
Background:
- Early detection of Alzheimer's disease (AD) neuropathology is crucial for effective treatment.
- Quantitative MRI measures like transverse relaxation time (T2) reflect tissue microstructure but show inconsistent findings in normal aging and AD.
- The relationship between T2 and amyloid-beta (Aβ) accumulation, especially in preclinical AD stages, remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate longitudinal changes in hippocampal T2 in cognitively normal older adults.
- To examine the association between these T2 changes and global Aβ accumulation.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective, longitudinal study of 56 cognitively normal adults (aged 55-90).
- Utilized 3 Tesla MRI with a multi-echo spin echo sequence for T2 mapping.
- Employed 18F-florbetaben positron emission tomography (PET) for Aβ measurement.
Main Results:
- Older age correlated with increased hippocampal T2 and decreased left hippocampal volume.
- In individuals with low Aβ, increased left hippocampal T2 and cross-sectional bilateral T2 positively correlated with Aβ PET levels, independent of hippocampal volume.
- Significant associations were found using linear mixed-effect and general linear models (p < 0.025).
Conclusions:
- Provides in vivo evidence linking hippocampal T2 to Aβ accumulation in cognitively normal aging.
- Suggests quantitative T2 MRI is sensitive to early microstructural changes associated with Aβ pathology, including neuroinflammation and demyelination.
- Highlights T2 as a potential biomarker for preclinical Alzheimer's disease.
