JEDI MRI to spot tiny brain changes in aging and Alzheimer's
Joint Estimate Diffusion Imaging (JEDI) for improved Tissue Characterization and Neural Connectivity in Aging and Alzheimer's Disease
A new MRI method called JEDI aims to better show small-scale brain tissue and connectivity changes in older adults and people with Alzheimer's.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11303283 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will use a new diffusion MRI technique called JEDI on clinical scanners to capture subtle water movement in brain gray and white matter, giving more detail than standard MRI. The method combines specialized scanning sequences and analysis to reveal microstructural features at tissue borders and improved maps of neural connections. The team will apply JEDI to older adults and people with or at risk for Alzheimer's and compare results to existing diffusion MRI measures and clinical function. This work builds on preliminary implementation of JEDI and seeks to link the imaging findings to cognition and daily functioning.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are older adults, people diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or related dementias, and individuals at higher risk for Alzheimer's who can safely undergo MRI scanning.
Not a fit: People who cannot have MRI (for example, due to incompatible implants or severe claustrophobia) or whose symptoms are unrelated to brain microstructure may not benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, JEDI could allow earlier and more precise detection of Alzheimer's-related tissue and connectivity changes using routine MRI scanners.
How similar studies have performed: The approach builds on diffusion MRI research and the investigators have preliminary work implementing JEDI on scanners, but its clinical usefulness for Alzheimer's is still novel and under study.
Where this research is happening
La Jolla, United States
- University of California, San Diego — La Jolla, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Frank, Lawrence R — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Frank, Lawrence R
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.