Statistical Parametric Mapping and Voxel-Based Specific Regional Analysis System for Alzheimer's Disease (VSRAD):...

Area of Science:

• Neuroimaging
• Neurology
• Biostatistics

Background:

• Voxel-Based Specific Regional Analysis System for Alzheimer's Disease (VSRAD) quantifies brain atrophy via MRI comparison to a healthy Japanese database.
• VSRAD is clinically used for diagnosing Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB).
• Recent research explores VSRAD for brain atrophy in conditions like diabetes and olfactory dysfunction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the principles and applications of VSRAD and its foundational method, voxel-based morphometry (VBM).
• To summarize VSRAD's clinical and research utility in assessing brain atrophy.

Main Methods:

• A narrative literature review was conducted.
• PubMed was searched for articles on VBM and VSRAD published between 2005 and 2025.

Main Results:

• VSRAD provides four indices to quantify gray matter atrophy, particularly in the medial temporal lobe.
• VSRAD demonstrates high accuracy in differentiating AD, Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), and DLB.
• VSRAD correlates with neuropsychological tests and assesses brain changes linked to diabetes, olfactory dysfunction, and inactivity.

Conclusions:

• Quantifying brain atrophy with VSRAD offers objective evaluation for disease association studies.
• VSRAD serves as a valuable adjunctive tool for diagnosing AD and DLB.