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Present and Future of Ultra-High Field MRI in Neurodegenerative Disorders

  • Neuroimaging (N Pavese, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

With a high signal-to-noise ratio, unparalleled spatial resolution, and improved contrasts, ultra-high field MR (≥ 7 T) has great potential in depicting the normal radiological anatomy of smaller structures in the brain and can also provide more information about morphological, quantitative, and metabolic changes associated with a wide range of brain disorders. By focusing attention on specific brain regions believed to be associated with early pathological change, or by more closely inspecting recognized foci of brain pathology, ultra-high field MR can improve the accuracy and sensitivity of neuroimaging. This article reviews recent studies at ultra-high field about Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Recent Findings

The research on AD has mainly focused on detecting the thinning of hippocampal layers and the susceptibility effect supposed to be related to beta-amyloid deposition. In patients with PD, atypical parkinsonisms and subjects at risk of developing motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, the main aim was to detect changes in the substantia nigra, probably related to increased iron deposition. In patients with ALS, both brain and spinal cord were investigated, with the aim of finding changes in the primary motor cortex and corticospinal tract which reflect neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation.

Summary

Ultra-high field MR was shown to be useful for detecting subtle brain changes in patients with AD, and possible new diagnostic biomarkers in patients with PD and ALS were discovered. The ability of 7 T MR to provide prognostic biomarkers in subjects at risk for developing synucleinopathies is currently under evaluation.

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Acknowledgments

This work is part of the experimental protocol “Seven Tesla MR imaging as preclinical biomarker in populations at risk for Parkinson disease” (RF-2013-02354829) approved and funded by the Italian Ministry of Health and co-funded by the Health Service of Tuscany. We wish to thank Mark R. Symms for the assistance in the manuscript revision.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy

    Graziella Donatelli & Mirco Cosottini

  2. Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Roma 67, 56126, Pisa, Italy

    Roberto Ceravolo & Ubaldo Bonuccelli

  3. Neurology Unit, Department of Medical Specialties, AOUP, Pisa, Italy

    Daniela Frosini

  4. Laboratory of Medical Physics and Biotechnologies for Magnetic Resonance, IRCCS, Stella Maris, Pisa, Italy

    Michela Tosetti

  5. Imago7 Research Foundation, Pisa, Italy

    Michela Tosetti

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  1. Graziella Donatelli
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  2. Roberto Ceravolo
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  4. Michela Tosetti
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  5. Ubaldo Bonuccelli
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  6. Mirco Cosottini
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Correspondence to Roberto Ceravolo.

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Conflict of Interest

Graziella Donatelli, Daniela Frosini, Michela Tosetti, and Ubaldo Bonuccelli declare no conflict of interest.

Roberto Ceravolo has received a grant from the Italian Ministry of Health and co-funded by the Health Service of Tuscany.

Mirco Cosottini has received a grant from the Italian Ministry of Health and co-funded by the Health Service of Tuscany.

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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 article is part of the Topical Collection on Neuroimaging

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Donatelli, G., Ceravolo, R., Frosini, D. et al. Present and Future of Ultra-High Field MRI in Neurodegenerative Disorders. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep 18, 31 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11910-018-0841-7

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