Neuroimaging Techniques in Alzheimer's Disease Diagnosis

Alzheimer’s disease represents a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterised by cognitive decline and neuropathological hallmarks such as amyloid-β plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. Neuroimaging has become indispensable in its diagnosis, staging and monitoring. Structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) permits detailed assessment of brain atrophy, notably within the hippocampus and medial temporal lobes, using both visual rating scales and automated volumetry. Molecular imaging with positron emission tomography (PET) enables in vivo detection of amyloid and tau pathology, while fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET quantifies regional metabolic deficits. Advanced techniques such as diffusion tensor imaging reveal microstructural white matter changes and functional MRI characterises network dysfunction. More recently, radiomic analysis and machine-learning algorithms have been applied to extract high-dimensional image features, enhancing sensitivity to early tissue alterations and improving individualised risk prediction. Multimodal integration further refines diagnostic accuracy and supports the development of precision medicine approaches. Collectively, these modalities contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of disease onset, progression and therapeutic response.

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Neuroimaging Techniques in Alzheimer's Disease Diagnosis publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in neuroimaging techniques in alzheimer's disease diagnosis across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Medial temporal lobe atrophy (MTA): Evaluation of shrinkage in the region encompassing the hippocampus and surrounding cortex, indicative of neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s disease.

Radiomics: High-throughput extraction of quantitative image features that capture tissue heterogeneity, shape and texture for diagnostic and prognostic modelling.

Texture analysis: Quantification of spatial patterns in image intensity to detect microstructural alterations beyond gross volumetric changes.

Volumetry: Measurement of brain structure volumes, commonly applied to the hippocampus and ventricles, to assess atrophy associated with disease progression.

Positron emission tomography (PET): Molecular imaging modality using radiotracers such as amyloid or tau ligands to visualise pathological protein deposition in vivo.

References

1. The role of visual rating and automated brain volumetry in early detection and differential diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. CNS Neuroscience & Therapeutics (2023).
2. A cross-sectional study of explainable machine learning in Alzheimer’s disease: diagnostic classification using MR radiomic features. Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience (2023).
3. Longitudinal changes in hippocampal texture from healthy aging to Alzheimer’s disease. Brain Communications (2023).