Advanced MRI of white-matter changes in aging and early Alzheimer's
Quantitative Neuroimaging Assessment of White Matter Integrity in the Context of Aging and AD
['FUNDING_R01'] · MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA · NIH-11237617
Using advanced MRI scans, researchers look for early white-matter brain changes in cognitively healthy older adults who may be at risk for Alzheimer's.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (CHARLESTON, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11237617 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
This project follows adults aged about 45–85 over time with advanced diffusion MRI, amyloid PET scans, memory testing, and questionnaires to find subtle white-matter changes before symptoms appear. Researchers already enrolled a long-term group of participants and repeat these imaging and clinical visits to see who develops mild cognitive impairment. The team uses specialized diffusion MRI methods they developed to measure tissue microstructure and signs of myelin change or repair in specific brain pathways. The goal is to refine these imaging tools so they better predict early decline and link to other Alzheimer's markers.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are cognitively unimpaired adults roughly 45–85 years old who can undergo MRI and PET scans and commit to repeat visits over time.
Not a fit: People with advanced symptomatic Alzheimer's dementia or those who cannot have MRI/PET scans (for example due to certain implants, severe claustrophobia, or inability to travel) are unlikely to benefit directly from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could help detect Alzheimer-related brain changes earlier, improving chances for monitoring and early treatment trials.
How similar studies have performed: Similar advanced MRI approaches have shown promising early signals, and this team's prior work found hippocampal diffusion changes that predicted incident mild cognitive impairment beyond standard biomarkers.
Where this research is happening
CHARLESTON, UNITED STATES
- MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA — CHARLESTON, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: BENITEZ, ANDREANA — MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA
- Study coordinator: BENITEZ, ANDREANA
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.
Conditions: Alzheimer disease dementia