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Imaging Alzheimer's genetic risk using diffusion MRI: A systematic review
Judith R. Harrison Sanchita Bhatia Zhao Xuan Tan Anastasia Mirza-Davies Hannah Benkert Chantal M.W. Tax Derek K. Jones
Judith R. Harrison
Sanchita Bhatia
Zhao Xuan Tan
Anastasia Mirza-Davies
Hannah Benkert
Chantal M.W. Tax
Derek K. Jones
Abstract
Diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI) is an imaging technique which probes the random motion of water molecules in tissues and has been widely applied to investigate changes in white matter microstructure in Alzheimer’s Disease. This paper aims to systematically review studies that examined the effect of Alzheimer’s risk genes on white matter microstructure. We assimilated findings from 37 studies and reviewed their diffusion pre-processing and analysis methods. Most studies estimate the diffusion tensor (DT) and compare derived quantitative measures such as fractional anisotropy and mean diffusivity between groups. Those with increased AD genetic risk are associated with reduced anisotropy and increased diffusivity across the brain, most notably the temporal and frontal lobes, cingulum and corpus callosum. Structural abnormalities are most evident amongst those with established Alzheimer’s Disease. Recent studies employ signal representations and analysis frameworks beyond DT MRI but show that dMRI overall lacks specificity to disease pathology. However, as the field advances, these techniques may prove useful in pre-symptomatic diagnosis or staging of Alzheimer’s disease.
Keywords
Alzheimer's Disease, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Diffusion Tensor Imaging, Apolipoproteins E, Presenilin-1, Presenilin-2, Multifactorial Inheritance
Date
2020
Type
Journal article
Journal
NeuroImage: Clinical
Book
Volume
27
Issue
Page Range
1-14
Article Number
ACU Department
Collections
Relation URI
Source URL
Event URL
Open Access Status
Published as ‘gold’ (paid) open access
License
CC BY 4.0
File Access
Open