Advanced MRI methods to spot early Alzheimer’s changes and treatment effects
Diffusion and Functional MRI Monitoring of Therapy Response in Alzheimer’s Disease Mouse Model
Using advanced MRI scans to spot early brain changes and track how Alzheimer's treatments might work for people with Alzheimer's disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Medical University of South Carolina NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charleston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11314552 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are using two specialized MRI techniques — diffusion MRI (including diffusional kurtosis imaging) and resting-state functional MRI — to look for tiny changes in brain tissue structure and connectivity that occur early in Alzheimer’s. They are testing these imaging methods in a mouse model that develops Alzheimer-like plaques and tangles, scanning animals at early ages and after experimental therapies to see how the MRI signals change over time. The team compares MRI results with traditional disease markers to find imaging signs that appear before visible plaques and tangles. If the same MRI markers can be applied to people, they could help doctors detect treatment effects sooner and guide earlier care decisions.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with Alzheimer’s disease or early memory problems who want new ways to track treatment effects would be most relevant to this work.
Not a fit: People seeking immediate new treatments will not benefit directly from this animal-based imaging research, and people without Alzheimer’s are unlikely to find it relevant.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could provide a noninvasive imaging way to detect early treatment effects and speed development of better Alzheimer’s therapies.
How similar studies have performed: Prior animal and human imaging studies, including the investigators' earlier mouse work using diffusional kurtosis imaging, have shown promise for detecting Alzheimer-related changes, but using these scans to monitor treatments in people remains experimental.
Where this research is happening
Charleston, United States
- Medical University of South Carolina — Charleston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jensen, Jens H — Medical University of South Carolina
- Study coordinator: Jensen, Jens H
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.