High-resolution whole-brain metabolic MRI for Alzheimer's and related dementias
High Resolution MRSI for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias
This project builds a new high-resolution MRI-based chemical scan to better detect and map brain changes in people with mild cognitive impairment, early Alzheimer's disease, and related dementias.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Iowa NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Iowa City, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11258934 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would get a new whole-brain magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) scan that makes detailed chemical maps of your brain on standard 3T MRI machines. Researchers are improving how the scan is taken and analyzed so results are more sensitive, higher-resolution, and reproducible across sites. They will scan adults aged 40–80 to build a normal metabolic atlas and will compare scans from people with mild cognitive impairment or early Alzheimer's to matched volunteers without memory problems. The team from the University of Iowa, UCSF, and GE Healthcare will test the scan's reliability and usefulness.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults about 40–80 years old with mild cognitive impairment or early Alzheimer's disease, and matched healthy volunteers for comparison.
Not a fit: People with advanced dementia, those who cannot safely undergo MRI (for example due to certain implanted devices), or those outside the target age range may not benefit or be eligible.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help detect and monitor metabolic brain changes earlier or more precisely, improving diagnosis and tracking of Alzheimer's and related dementias.
How similar studies have performed: Previous MRSI research has shown promise for detecting metabolic changes in neurodegenerative disease, but this high-resolution, whole-brain approach on widely available 3T scanners is relatively novel and less clinically validated.
Where this research is happening
Iowa City, United States
- University of Iowa — Iowa City, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Magnotta, Vincent a — University of Iowa
- Study coordinator: Magnotta, Vincent a
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.