Using MRI to See Brain Changes in Alzheimer's Disease
Assessing Diffusion MRI Metrics for Detecting Changes of Synaptic Density in Alzheimer's Disease
This research aims to find a safe and detailed way, using MRI, to spot early brain changes linked to memory loss in people with Alzheimer's disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Indiana University Indianapolis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Indianapolis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11092201 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
We know that changes in brain connections, called synapses, are key to memory and thinking problems in Alzheimer's disease. Currently, it's hard to see these changes in living people without invasive methods or expensive, lower-resolution scans like PET. This project explores whether a special type of MRI can detect these synaptic changes in a mouse model of Alzheimer's. If successful, this MRI technique could then be used in future human studies to provide a clearer, safer, and more affordable way to understand and track the disease.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational research is not directly recruiting patients, but future studies building on this work would likely seek individuals aged 65 and older with or at risk for Alzheimer's disease.
Not a fit: Patients not affected by Alzheimer's disease or related dementias would not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to a non-invasive, high-resolution MRI method for detecting early brain changes in Alzheimer's disease, potentially aiding in earlier diagnosis and treatment monitoring.
How similar studies have performed: While PET imaging has shown some success in detecting synaptic changes, this research explores a novel application of diffusion MRI for this purpose, which is largely untested in this specific context.
Where this research is happening
Indianapolis, United States
- Indiana University Indianapolis — Indianapolis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wu, Yu-Chien — Indiana University Indianapolis
- Study coordinator: Wu, Yu-Chien
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.