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Rahmani F, Brier MR, Gordon BA, McKay N, Flores S, Keefe S, Hornbeck R, Ances B, Joseph‐Mathurin N, Xiong C, Wang G, Raji CA, Libre‐Guerra JJ, Perrin RJ, McDade E, Daniels A, Karch C, Day GS, Brickman AM, Fulham M, Jack CR, la La Fougère C, Reischl G, Schofield PR, Oh H, Levin J, Vöglein J, Cash DM, Yakushev I, Ikeuchi T, Klunk WE, Morris JC, Bateman RJ, Benzinger TLS. T1 and FLAIR signal intensities are related to tau pathology in dominantly inherited Alzheimer disease. Hum Brain Mapp 2023; 44:6375-6387. [PMID: 37867465 PMCID: PMC10681640 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.26514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Revised: 09/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Carriers of mutations responsible for dominantly inherited Alzheimer disease provide a unique opportunity to study potential imaging biomarkers. Biomarkers based on routinely acquired clinical MR images, could supplement the extant invasive or logistically challenging) biomarker studies. We used 1104 longitudinal MR, 324 amyloid beta, and 87 tau positron emission tomography imaging sessions from 525 participants enrolled in the Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network Observational Study to extract novel imaging metrics representing the mean (μ) and standard deviation (σ) of standardized image intensities of T1-weighted and Fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) MR scans. There was an exponential decrease in FLAIR-μ in mutation carriers and an increase in FLAIR and T1 signal heterogeneity (T1-σ and FLAIR-σ) as participants approached the symptom onset in both supramarginal, the right postcentral and right superior temporal gyri as well as both caudate nuclei, putamina, thalami, and amygdalae. After controlling for the effect of regional atrophy, FLAIR-μ decreased and T1-σ and FLAIR-σ increased with increasing amyloid beta and tau deposition in numerous cortical regions. In symptomatic mutation carriers and independent of the effect of regional atrophy, tau pathology demonstrated a stronger relationship with image intensity metrics, compared with amyloid pathology. We propose novel MR imaging intensity-based metrics using standard clinical T1 and FLAIR images which strongly associates with the progression of pathology in dominantly inherited Alzheimer disease. We suggest that tau pathology may be a key driver of the observed changes in this cohort of patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Brian A. Gordon
- Washington University School of MedicineSt. LouisMissouriUSA
| | - Nicole McKay
- Washington University School of MedicineSt. LouisMissouriUSA
| | - Shaney Flores
- Washington University School of MedicineSt. LouisMissouriUSA
| | - Sarah Keefe
- Washington University School of MedicineSt. LouisMissouriUSA
| | - Russ Hornbeck
- Washington University School of MedicineSt. LouisMissouriUSA
| | - Beau Ances
- Washington University School of MedicineSt. LouisMissouriUSA
| | | | - Chengjie Xiong
- Washington University School of MedicineSt. LouisMissouriUSA
| | - Guoqiao Wang
- Washington University School of MedicineSt. LouisMissouriUSA
| | - Cyrus A. Raji
- Washington University School of MedicineSt. LouisMissouriUSA
| | | | | | - Eric McDade
- Washington University School of MedicineSt. LouisMissouriUSA
| | - Alisha Daniels
- Washington University School of MedicineSt. LouisMissouriUSA
| | - Celeste Karch
- Washington University School of MedicineSt. LouisMissouriUSA
| | - Gregory S. Day
- Mayo Clinic, Department of NeurologyJacksonvilleFloridaUSA
| | - Adam M. Brickman
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease & the Aging Brain, and Department of Neurology College of Physicians and SurgeonsColumbia UniversityNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | | | | | - Christian la La Fougère
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Clinical Molecular ImagingUniversity Hospital TuebingenTübingenGermany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) TuebingenTübingenGermany
- Department of Preclinical Imaging and RadiopharmacyEberhard Karls University TübingenTübingenGermany
| | - Gerald Reischl
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Clinical Molecular ImagingUniversity Hospital TuebingenTübingenGermany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) TuebingenTübingenGermany
- Department of Preclinical Imaging and RadiopharmacyEberhard Karls University TübingenTübingenGermany
| | - Peter R. Schofield
- Neuroscience Research AustraliaSydneyNew South WalesAustralia
- School of Biomedical SciencesUniversity of New South WalesSydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Hwamee Oh
- Brown UniversityProvidenceRhode IslandUSA
| | - Johannes Levin
- Department of NeurologyLudwig‐Maximilians‐Universität MünchenMunichGermany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), site MunichMunichGermany
- Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy)MunichGermany
| | - Jonathan Vöglein
- Department of NeurologyLudwig‐Maximilians‐Universität MünchenMunichGermany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), site MunichMunichGermany
- Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy)MunichGermany
| | - David M. Cash
- UK Dementia Research Institute at University College LondonLondonUK
- Dementia Research CentreUCL Queen Square Institute of NeurologyLondonUK
| | - Igor Yakushev
- Department of NeurologyLudwig‐Maximilians‐Universität MünchenMunichGermany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), site MunichMunichGermany
- Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy)MunichGermany
| | | | | | - John C. Morris
- Washington University School of MedicineSt. LouisMissouriUSA
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Bontempi P, Rozzanigo U, Marangoni S, Fogazzi E, Ravanelli D, Cazzoletti L, Giometto B, Farace P. Non-lesional white matter in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis assessed by multicomponent T2 relaxation. Brain Behav 2023; 13:e3334. [PMID: 38041516 PMCID: PMC10726908 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.3334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The purpose of the study is to investigate, by T2 relaxation, non-lesional white matter (WM) in relapsing-remitting (RR) multiple sclerosis (MS). METHODS Twenty stable RR MS patients underwent 1.5T Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) with 3D Fluid-Attenuated Inversion-Recovery (FLAIR), 3D-T1-weighted, and T2-relaxation multi-echo sequences. The Lesion Segmentation Tool processed FLAIR images to identify focal lesions (FLs), whereas T1 images were segmented to identify WM and FL sub-volumes with T1 hypo-intensity. Non-lesional WM was obtained as the segmented WM, excluding FL volumes. The multi-echo sequence allowed decomposition into myelin water, intra-extracellular water, and free water (Fw), which were evaluated on the segmented non-lesional WM. Correlation analysis was performed between the non-lesional WM relaxation parameters and Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), disease duration, patient age, and T1 hypo-intense FL volumes. RESULTS The T1 hypo-intense FL volumes correlated with EDSS. On the non-lesional WM, the median Fw correlated with EDSS, disease duration, age, and T1 hypo-intense FL volumes. Bivariate EDSS correlation of FL volumes and WM T2-relaxation parameters did not improve significance. CONCLUSION T2 relaxation allowed identifying subtle WM alterations, which significantly correlated with EDSS, disease duration, and age but do not seem to be EDSS-predictors independent from FL sub-volumes in stable RR patients. Particularly, the increase in the Fw component is suggestive of an uninvestigated prodromal phenomenon in brain degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pietro Bontempi
- Department of Engineering for Innovation MedicineUniversity of VeronaVeronaItaly
| | - Umberto Rozzanigo
- Neuro‐radiology Unit, Hospital of TrentoAzienda Provinciale per i Servizi Sanitari (APSS)TrentoItaly
| | - Sabrina Marangoni
- Neurology Unit, Hospital of TrentoAzienda Provinciale per i Servizi Sanitari (APSS)TrentoItaly
| | - Elena Fogazzi
- Physics departmentUniversity of TrentoPovoTrentoItaly
| | - Daniele Ravanelli
- Medical Physics Department, Hospital of TrentoAzienda Provinciale per i Servizi Sanitari (APSS)TrentoItaly
| | - Lucia Cazzoletti
- Unit of Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Department of Diagnostics and Public HealthUniversity of VeronaVeronaItaly
| | - Bruno Giometto
- Neurology Unit, Hospital of TrentoAzienda Provinciale per i Servizi Sanitari (APSS)TrentoItaly
| | - Paolo Farace
- Medical Physics Department, Hospital of TrentoAzienda Provinciale per i Servizi Sanitari (APSS)TrentoItaly
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Brier MR, Taha F. Measuring Pathology in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis Using Positron Emission Tomography. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep 2023; 23:479-488. [PMID: 37418219 DOI: 10.1007/s11910-023-01285-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Multiple sclerosis is characterized by a diverse and complex pathology. Clinical relapses, the hallmark of the disease, are accompanied by focal white matter lesions with intense inflammatory and demyelinating activity. Prevention of these relapses has been the major focus of pharmaceutical development, and it is now possible to dramatically reduce this inflammatory activity. Unfortunately, disability accumulation persists for many people living with multiple sclerosis owing to ongoing damage within existing lesions, pathology outside of discrete lesions, and other yet unknown factors. Understanding this complex pathological cascade will be critical to stopping progressive multiple sclerosis. Positron emission tomography uses biochemically specific radioligands to quantitatively measure pathological processes with molecular specificity. This review examines recent advances in the understanding of multiple sclerosis facilitated by positron emission tomography and identifies future avenues to expand understanding and treatment options. RECENT FINDINGS An increasing number of radiotracers allow for the quantitative measurement of inflammatory abnormalities, de- and re-myelination, and metabolic disruption associated with multiple sclerosis. The studies have identified contributions of ongoing, smoldering inflammation to accumulating tissue injury and clinical worsening. Myelin studies have quantified the dynamics of myelin loss and recovery. Lastly, metabolic changes have been found to contribute to symptom worsening. The molecular specificity facilitated by positron emission tomography in people living with multiple sclerosis will critically inform efforts to modulate the pathology leading to progressive disability accumulation. Existing studies show the power of this approach applied to multiple sclerosis. This armamentarium of radioligands allows for new understanding of how the brain and spinal cord of people is impacted by multiple sclerosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew R Brier
- Department of Neurology, John L Trotter MS Center, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, USA.
| | - Farris Taha
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, USA
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Brier MR, Li Z, Ly M, Karim HT, Liang L, Du W, McCarthy JE, Cross AH, Benzinger TLS, Naismith RT, Chahin S. "Brain age" predicts disability accumulation in multiple sclerosis. Ann Clin Transl Neurol 2023; 10:990-1001. [PMID: 37119507 PMCID: PMC10270248 DOI: 10.1002/acn3.51782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/01/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Neurodegenerative conditions often manifest radiologically with the appearance of premature aging. Multiple sclerosis (MS) biomarkers related to lesion burden are well developed, but measures of neurodegeneration are less well-developed. The appearance of premature aging quantified by machine learning applied to structural MRI assesses neurodegenerative pathology. We assess the explanatory and predictive power of "brain age" analysis on disability in MS using a large, real-world dataset. METHODS Brain age analysis is predicated on the over-estimation of predicted brain age in patients with more advanced pathology. We compared the performance of three brain age algorithms in a large, longitudinal dataset (>13,000 imaging sessions from >6,000 individual MS patients). Effects of MS, MS disease course, disability, lesion burden, and DMT efficacy were assessed using linear mixed effects models. RESULTS MS was associated with advanced predicted brain age cross-sectionally and accelerated brain aging longitudinally in all techniques. While MS disease course (relapsing vs. progressive) did contribute to advanced brain age, disability was the primary correlate of advanced brain age. We found that advanced brain age at study enrollment predicted more disability accumulation longitudinally. Lastly, a more youthful appearing brain (predicted brain age less than actual age) was associated with decreased disability. INTERPRETATION Brain age is a technically tractable and clinically relevant biomarker of disease pathology that correlates with and predicts increasing disability in MS. Advanced brain age predicts future disability accumulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew R. Brier
- Department of NeurologyWashington University in St. LouisSt LouisMissouriUSA
| | - Zhuocheng Li
- Department of NeurologyWashington University in St. LouisSt LouisMissouriUSA
| | - Maria Ly
- Mallinckrodt Institute of RadiologyWashington University in St. LouisSt LouisMissouriUSA
- Department of PsychiatryUniversity of PittsburghPittsburghPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Helmet T. Karim
- Department of PsychiatryUniversity of PittsburghPittsburghPennsylvaniaUSA
- Department of BioengineeringUniversity of PittsburghPittsburghPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Leda Liang
- Department of Mathematics and StatisticsWashington University in St. LouisSt LouisMissouriUSA
| | - Weixin Du
- Department of Mathematics and StatisticsWashington University in St. LouisSt LouisMissouriUSA
| | - John E. McCarthy
- Department of Mathematics and StatisticsWashington University in St. LouisSt LouisMissouriUSA
| | - Anne H. Cross
- Department of NeurologyWashington University in St. LouisSt LouisMissouriUSA
| | - Tammie L. S. Benzinger
- Mallinckrodt Institute of RadiologyWashington University in St. LouisSt LouisMissouriUSA
| | - Robert T. Naismith
- Department of NeurologyWashington University in St. LouisSt LouisMissouriUSA
| | - Salim Chahin
- Department of NeurologyWashington University in St. LouisSt LouisMissouriUSA
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Brier MR, Blazey T, Raichle ME, Morris JC, Benzinger TLS, Vlassenko AG, Snyder AZ, Goyal MS. Increased white matter glycolysis in humans with cerebral small vessel disease. NATURE AGING 2022; 2:991-999. [PMID: 37118084 PMCID: PMC10155263 DOI: 10.1038/s43587-022-00303-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 04/30/2023]
Abstract
White matter lesions in cerebral small vessel disease are related to ischemic injury and increase the risk of stroke and cognitive decline. Pathological changes due to cerebral small vessel disease are increasingly recognized outside of discrete lesions, but the metabolic alterations in nonlesional tissue has not been described. Aerobic glycolysis is critical to white matter myelin homeostasis and repair. In this study, we examined cerebral metabolism of glucose and oxygen as well as blood flow in individuals with and without cerebral small vessel disease using multitracer positron emission tomography. We show that glycolysis is relatively elevated in nonlesional white matter in individuals with small vessel disease relative to healthy, age-matched controls. On the other hand, in young healthy individuals, glycolysis is relatively low in areas of white matter susceptible to lesion formation. These results suggest that increased white matter glycolysis is a marker of pathology associated with small vessel disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew R Brier
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
| | - Tyler Blazey
- Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Marcus E Raichle
- Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - John C Morris
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Tammie L S Benzinger
- Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Andrei G Vlassenko
- Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Abraham Z Snyder
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Manu S Goyal
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
- Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
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Xiang B, Brier MR, Kanthamneni M, Wen J, Snyder AZ, Yablonskiy DA, Cross AH. Tissue damage detected by quantitative gradient echo MRI correlates with clinical progression in non-relapsing progressive MS. Mult Scler 2022; 28:1515-1525. [PMID: 35196933 DOI: 10.1177/13524585211073761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Imaging biomarkers of progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) are needed. Quantitative gradient recalled echo (qGRE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evaluates microstructural tissue damage in MS. OBJECTIVE To evaluate qGRE-derived R2t* as an imaging biomarker of MS progression compared with atrophy and lesion burden. METHODS Twenty-three non-relapsing progressive MS (PMS), 22 relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), and 18 healthy control participants underwent standard MS physical and cognitive neurological assessments and imaging with qGRE, FLAIR, and MPRAGE at 3T. PMS subjects were tested clinically and imaged every 9 months over 45 months. Imaging measures included lesion burden, atrophy, and R2t* in cortical gray matter (GM), deep GM, and normal-appearing white matter (NAWM). Longitudinal analysis of clinical performance and imaging biomarkers in PMS subjects was conducted via linear models with subject as repeated, within-subject factor. Relationship between imaging biomarkers and clinical scores was assessed by Spearman rank correlation. RESULTS R2t* reductions correlated with neurological impairment cross-sectionally and longitudinally. PMS patients with clinically defined disease progression (N = 13) showed faster decrease of R2t* in NAWM and deep GM compared with the clinically stable PMS group (N = 10). Importantly, tissue damage measured by R2t* outperformed lesion burden and atrophy as a biomarker of progression during the study period. CONCLUSION qGRE-derived R2t* is a potential imaging biomarker of MS progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Biao Xiang
- Department of Radiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Matthew R Brier
- Department of Neurology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Manasa Kanthamneni
- Department of Radiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA/School of Medicine, St. George's University, St. George, Grenada
| | - Jie Wen
- Department of Radiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Abraham Z Snyder
- Department of Radiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA/Department of Neurology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | | | - Anne H Cross
- Department of Neurology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
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