Diffusion tensor imaging in familial Alzheimer's disease: Longitudinal and cross-sectional studies of early change

阿尔茨海默病是痴呆症最常见的形式，在早期阶段很难诊断。最近开发了一些不同的大脑扫描技术，可以发现这些人的早期变化。这些技术之一被称为扩散成像。这检查脑组织的微观结构，非侵入性的。它还允许评估大脑部分之间的连接-所谓的白色物质束。因此，扩散成像不仅可以评估大脑特定区域的退化程度，还可以评估区域之间的连接如何受到影响。家族性阿尔茨海默病是阿尔茨海默病的一种罕见形式，这种疾病在年轻时遗传。来自已知基因突变家庭的个人慷慨地同意参加前瞻性纵向研究。我们建议研究那些身体健康，但已知有患阿尔茨海默病风险的人。这将使我们能够获得高分辨率的脑部扫描，包括这种新的扩散成像技术，以及详细的临床和心理评估。我们将研究这种技术是否能检测到早期变化，以及这种变化如何与临床认知问题的发生和进展相匹配。

Diagnosis of Alzheimer‘s disease, the most common form of dementia, is difficult in its earlier stages. A number of different brain scanning techniques have recently been developed which may pick up very early changes in these individuals. One of these techniques is called diffusion imaging. This examines the microscopic structure of brain tissue, non-invasively. It also allows assessment of connections between parts of the brain - so called white matter tracts. Diffusion imaging therefore allows not just the assessment of how particular areas of brain may be degenerating, but also how the connections between areas are being affected. Familial Alzheimer‘s disease is a rare form of Alzheimer‘s where the disease is inherited at a young age. Individuals from families with known genetic mutations have generously agreed to take part in prospective longitudinal studies. We propose to study individuals who are well, but who are at known risk of developing Alzheimer‘s disease. This will allow us to acquire high resolution brain scans, including this new technique of diffusion imaging in conjunction with detailed clinical and psychological assessments. We will examine whether this technique detects early changes and how this matches with the onset and progression of clinical cognitive problems.