Emil
Malucelli1, David Neil Manners1, Claudia Testa2,
Caterina Tonon2, Giovanni Rizzo2, Roberto Poda3,
Federico Oppi3, Michelangelo Stanzani Maserati3, Luisa
Sambati3, Bruno Barbiroli2, Roberto Gallassi3,
Raffaele Lodi2
1Department of Internal Medicine, Aging and Nephrology
, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy; 2Department of Internal Medicine, Aging and Nephrology,
University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy; 3Department of Neurological
Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
Objectives:
To assess the ability of combined MR cortical structure volumetry and DTI to
automatically detect regional brain changes in patients with Alzheimer
disease (AD) and Frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Methods: 9 AD patients, 7 FTD
patients and 7 controls were studied by 3D volumetric and DW MR imaging. An
automated registration/segmentation pipeline defined cortical and subcortical
regions of interest, yielding structure volumes and mean diffusivity.
Results. Diffuse volume reductions and MD increases were found in both
patient groups compared to controls. Conclusions: the protocol described has
the potential to identify in vivo surrogate markers for brain pathologic
changes in neurodegeneration.
Keywords