1H MRSI of the Human Brain at 7T

描述(申请人提供)：质子磁共振波谱成像(1H-MRSI)提供了一种非侵入性方法，用于识别、可视化和量化特定的脑生化标记物和神经递质，评估受伤或患病脑组织的异常，对退行性疾病进行纵向监测，并对治疗干预措施进行早期评估。这些独特的能力使得能够在体内直接评估离散的大脑结构的神经化学状态，并有可能确定选择性大脑病理的潜在机制。 在人类研究中，1H-MRSI已经成功地识别了神经元健康、细胞膜完整性、神经胶质活性和氨基酸神经递质循环的标志物。然而，在常规场强下的光谱成像存在空间分辨率低(通常在厘米量级)和有限的光谱分辨率，导致对相对较少数量的代谢物的稳健检测。 提高灵敏度的明显需要一直是安装Highfield扫描仪的驱动力。本项目是为响应美国国立卫生研究院的计划公告(PA-06-279)：神经技术研究、开发和增强(R01)而写的，建议开发增强型1H-MRSI技术，以利用最近推出的超高场7特斯拉(T)全身磁共振扫描仪的理论优势(增强的信噪比[SNR]、光谱分辨率和信息含量)，从而解决神经光谱学进展的关键障碍。 这项为期4年的R01的目标是开发优化的7T 1H-MRSI数据采集和处理技术，以提供目前无法获得的来自整个人类大脑中选定组织和小结构的高空间分辨率和高信噪比生化信息。这些新的成像工具的成功开发将对基础科学和临床应用产生广泛的影响，因为它们提供了深入了解大脑健康和疾病机制的手段。这些进展的应用包括大脑发育、精神病理学、药物和酒精依赖、神经退化过程、脑损伤和治疗干预的研究。与公众健康相关：质子磁共振波谱成像(1H-MRSI)提供了一种非侵入性的方法来识别、可视化和量化特定的脑生化标记物和神经递质，该项目建议开发所需的创新技术，以利用最近推出的超高场7T人体扫描仪提供的理论优势。这项工作的目标是实现比现有方法可能的空间分辨率和覆盖率提高两到八倍，同时检测到的代谢物数量显著增加。我们预计，这些新成像工具的成功开发将对基础科学和临床应用产生广泛影响，为深入了解大脑健康和疾病的机制提供手段，这些开发应用包括脑发育、精神病理学、药物和酒精依赖、神经退变过程、脑损伤和局部脑结构的治疗反应的研究。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (1H-MRSI) offers a non-invasive method for the identification, visualization, and quantification of specific brain biochemical markers and neurotransmitters, the assessment of abnormalities in injured or diseased brain tissue, the longitudinal monitoring of degenerative diseases, and the early evaluation of therapeutic interventions. These unique capabilities enable the direct in vivo assessment of the neurochemical status of discrete brain structures with the potential of identifying mechanisms underlying selective brain pathologies. 1H-MRSI has been successful in identifying markers of neuronal health, cell membrane integrity, glial activity, and amino acid neurotransmitter cycling in human studies. Nevertheless, spectroscopic imaging at conventional field strengths suffers from poor spatial resolution, typically on the order of centimeters, and limited spectral resolution, resulting in the robust detection of a relatively small number of metabolites. The clear need to improve sensitivity has been a driving force behind the installation of highfield scanners. This project, written in response to the NIH Program Announcement (PA-06-279): Neurotechnology Research, Development, and Enhancement (R01) - proposes the development of enhanced 1H-MRSI technology needed to exploit the theoretical advantages (enhanced signal-to-noise ratio [SNR], spectral resolution, and information content) available using recently introduced ultrahigh-field 7 Tesla (T) whole-body MR scanners; thus addressing a critical barrier to progress in neurospectroscopy. The goal of this 4-year R01 is to develop optimized 7T 1H-MRSI data acquisition and processing techniques to provide currently unavailable high-spatial resolution and high-SNR biochemical information from selective tissues and small structures throughout the human brain. The successful development of these new imaging tools will have a broad impact on basic science and clinical applications by providing the means to obtain insights into mechanisms of brain health and disease. Applications of these developments include studies of brain development, psychopathology, drug and alcohol dependence, neurodegenerative processes, brain injury, and therapeutic interventions. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (1H-MRSI) offers a non-invasive method for the identification, visualization, and quantification of specific brain biochemical markers and neurotransmitters, and this project proposes the development of innovative technologies needed to exploit the theoretical advantages offered by recently introduced ultrahigh field 7T human scanners. The goal of this work is to achieve two- to eight-fold higher spatial resolution and coverage, along with the detection of a significantly increased number of metabolites, than possible with existing methods. We anticipate the successful development of these new imaging tools will have a broad impact on basic science and clinical applications by providing the means to obtain insights into mechanisms of brain health and disease, and applications of these developments include studies of brain development, psychopathology, drug and alcohol dependence, neurodegenerative processes, brain injury, and the therapeutic response of focal brain structures.