System Maintenance Notice

Please note that maintenance work is scheduled between 4 AM and 5 AM - CET. During this time, you may experience reduced performance. Thanks for your patience.

Publications

Journal Article Epublish

PubMed: 42766053 DOI: 10.1186/s41747-026-00792-1

T1 mapping in Alzheimer's disease: a quantitative MRI study with amyloid-PET correlation.

Eur Radiol Exp 10(1)

Authors: Lorenzo Gualco, Noemi Montobbio, Mattia Losa, Mauro Costagli, Federico Massa, Beatrice Orso, Lucia Argenti, Enrico Peira, Andrea Chincarini, Silvia Morbelli, Stefano Raffa, Luca Sofia, Gianmario Sambuceti, Luigi Lorenzini, Emanuele Pravatà, Massimo Caulo, Martina Pulze, Dario Arnaldi, Andrea Diociasi, Domenico Zacà, Gian Franco Piredda, Tom Hilbert, Tobias Kober, Marco Bozzali, Maria Pia Sormani, Matteo Pardini, Luca Roccatagliata

Affiliations

  • Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
  • IRCCS AOU SS Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo, Alessandria, Italy.
  • Department of Health Sciences (DISSAL), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
  • AOM - IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy.
  • National Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN) Genoa Section, Genoa, Italy.
  • Nuclear Medicine Unit, Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Turin, Italy.
  • Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
  • Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centre, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
  • Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, "G. d'Annunzio" University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy.
  • Institute for Advanced Biomedical Technologies (ITAB), "G. d'Annunzio" University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy.
  • Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (DIMI), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
  • Scientific Collaborations and Strategic Partnerships, Siemens Healthcare S.r.l. Milan, Italy.
  • Swiss Innovation Hub, Siemens Healthineers International AG, Lausanne, Switzerland.
  • Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland.
  • Department of Radiology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
  • Research & Clinical Translation, Magnetic Resonance, Siemens Healthineers AG, Erlangen, Germany.
  • 'Rita Levi Montalcini' Department of Neuroscience, University of Torino, Turin, Italy.
  • SC Neurologia 2U, AOU City of Health and Science, Turin, Italy.
  • Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
  • AOM - IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES

Quantitative T1 mapping (qT1) is a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) biomarker of brain microstructural changes; however, its application in Alzheimer disease (AD) remains limited. We compared cortico-limbic qT1 values between patients with AD and healthy controls (HCs) and examined their relationship with amyloid burden measured by amyloid-positron emission tomography (PET).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We retrospectively identified subjects with mild cognitive impairment due to AD and HCs who underwent 3-T MRI, including a compressed-sensing MP2RAGE sequence, generating three-dimensional T1-weighted images and qT1 maps. Amyloid-PET was available for 16 patients. Hippocampal qT1 and volume were compared between groups, adjusting for age and sex; analyses were repeated after stratifying patients by Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Voxel-wise group comparison was performed using SPM 12. The qT1-standardized uptake value ratio (SUVr) association was assessed with a linear mixed-effects model applied to voxel-level data, accounting for partial volume effects.

RESULTS

Thirty-three AD subjects, aged 69.3 ± 8.2 years (mean ± standard deviation), 18 females, and 22 HCs aged 70.5 ± 13.3 years, 15 females, were evaluated. Regional hippocampal qT1 was higher in AD (1,398 ± 53.0 ms versus 1,349 ± 53.4 ms; p = 0.002), without difference across cognitive subgroups stratified by MMSE. AD subjects exhibited increased qT1 in mesial temporal gray matter and temporo-parieto-occipital cortices (1,448 ± 55.7 ms versus 1,344 ± 51.6 ms; p < 0.001). Voxel-level modelling revealed a positive association between qT1 and amyloid-PET SUVr (p < 0.001; d = 0.223).

CONCLUSION

qT1 mapping can be sensitive to changes related to brain amyloidosis, supporting its role as a promising, noninvasive imaging biomarker in AD.

KEY POINTS

Question Can qT1 mapping detect AD-related microstructural changes in the cortico-limbic gray matter? Findings Participants with AD showed increased cortico-limbic qT1 values. A subtle yet consistent positive association was observed between cortical qT1 values and amyloid-PET SUVr. Relevance statement qT1 mapping captures microstructural tissue alterations related to amyloid pathology in Alzheimer's disease, supporting its role as a potential non-invasive imaging biomarker in this condition.

MeSH

Gray Matter, Alzheimer Disease, Brain, Cognitive Dysfunction, Biomarkers, Aged, Amyloid