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Future Directions in Imaging Neurodegeneration

  • Neuroimaging (DJ Brooks, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Neuroimaging comprises a powerful set of instruments to diagnose various neurodegenerative disorders, clarifies their neurobiology, and monitors their treatment. Magnetic resonance imaging depicts volume changes, as well as abnormalities in functional and structural connectivity. Positron emission tomography (PET) allows for the quantification of regional cerebral metabolism, characteristically altered in Alzheimer’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, diffuse Lewy-body disease, and the frontotemporal dementias. PET is also used to measure several neurotransmitters, such as dopamine, which is abnormal in Parkinson’s disease, and to determine the abnormal brain deposition of amyloid-β and tau, as well as brain inflammation. These instruments allow for the quantification in vivo and the longitudinal follow-up of key neurobiological events in neurodegeneration. For instance, amyloid imaging is being used not only to determine who has excess amyloid in the brain but also to investigate whether removing it may slow the deposition of tau and delay cognitive impairment in Alzheimer’s disease.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nantz National Alzheimer Center and Neuroimaging, Houston Methodist Neurological Institute, Houston Methodist Hospital, New York Medical College, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, 6560 Fannin Street, Scurlock 802, Houston, TX, 77030, USA

    Joseph C. Masdeu

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Correspondence to Joseph C. Masdeu.

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Conflict of Interest

Joseph C. Masdeu is a consultant for General Electric Healthcare and has received research support from this company, from Lilly, and from AVID Radiopharmaceuticals.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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This work was supported by the Nantz National Alzheimer Center, Houston Methodist Stanley H. Appel Department of Neurology and by the Houston Methodist Research Institute.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Neuroimaging

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Masdeu, J.C. Future Directions in Imaging Neurodegeneration. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep 17, 9 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11910-017-0718-1

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