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Abstract #0689

Joint Analysis of Structural & Quantitative Magnetization Transfer MRI For Classification of Alzheimers Disease & Normal Aging

Giovanni Giulietti1, Marco Bozzali1, Viviana Figura1, Roberta Perri2, Camillo Marra3, Franco Giubilei4, Mara Cercignani1

1Neuroimaging Laboratory, Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy; 2Department of Clinical & Behavioural Neurology, Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy; 3Institute of Neurology, Cattolica University, Rome, Italy; 4Department of Neurology, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy


Quantitative magnetisation transfer imaging (qMTI) is an extension of MTI which allows the binary spin bath model parameters to be estimated. In this study we have extended the assessment of qMT parameters in patients with Alzheimers disease (AD) to the whole brain and determined the joint contribution of gray matter regional atrophy and qMT parameters for the classification of AD using a logistic regression analysis. Our results indicate that a decrese of RM0B (forward exchange rate) in the hipoccampal/parahippocampal areas, in the posterior cingulate, and in the posterior parietal cortex is significantly predictive of AD diagnosis.