Hagen H. Kitzler1, John A. Ronald1, Yuanxin Chen1, Robert R. Hammond2, Brian K. Rutt1
1Robarts Research Institute, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada; 2Department of Neuropathology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
We investigated the capability of high-resolution 3T MR using three-dimensional Fast Imaging Employing STeady state Acquisition (FIESTA) for the detection of β-amyloid plaques in fixed brain specimens from Alzheimers Disease (AD) patients. Focal spherical signal voids were found in neuro-anatomical locations characteristic for the disease, and correlated with β-amyloid plaques identified in registered histological and immuno-histological sections stained for both iron and β-amyloid protein. Here we present the first successful attempt at direct imaging of amyloid plaques in human AD brain tissue using clinical field-strength MR imaging system supported by a specialized gradient insert.