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Magnetic resonance imaging of morphological changes in the spinal cord in patients with Alzheimer`s disease
In Alzheimer`s disease neuropathology affects the whole neuroaxis, but the spinal cord is usually ignored. The project aims to assess morphological changes in the cervical cord of patients with Alzheimer`s disease by analysing structural magnetic resonance imaging data.
Keywords: magnetic resonance imaging, optoacoustic imaging, image registration, data analysis, brain
Alzheimer`s disease is associated with extensive neuropathological changes in the brain, which comprises extracellular deposition of β-amyloid plaques but also the presence of intracellular neurofibrillary tangles. The neuropathology is associated with macroscopic atrophy of specific brain structures. Structural magnetic resonance imaging techniques have demonstrated regional atrophy in the hippocampus and the medial temporal lobes. Thus, atrophy has been proposed as an imaging biomarker of Alzheimer`s disease. Neuropathological studies have also revealed an involvement of the spinal cord in the early stages of Alzheimer`s disease. However, investigations of the morphological changes that are associated with the pathology in the spinal cord have so far not be performed. These may be required to better understand the role of movement disorders in Alzheimer`s disease patients.
The specific aim of the project is to assess morphological changes in the cervical cord of patients with Alzheimer`s disease by analysing structural magnetic resonance imaging data.
To this end, longitudinal data sets containing structural magnetic resonance imaging data, positron emission tomography and clinical data are available.
Students with interest and experience in medicine, biomedical engineering, computational sciences, and image processing are encouraged to apply.
Tasks: 60% computational image processing, 20% statistical analysis, 20% report writing
Alzheimer`s disease is associated with extensive neuropathological changes in the brain, which comprises extracellular deposition of β-amyloid plaques but also the presence of intracellular neurofibrillary tangles. The neuropathology is associated with macroscopic atrophy of specific brain structures. Structural magnetic resonance imaging techniques have demonstrated regional atrophy in the hippocampus and the medial temporal lobes. Thus, atrophy has been proposed as an imaging biomarker of Alzheimer`s disease. Neuropathological studies have also revealed an involvement of the spinal cord in the early stages of Alzheimer`s disease. However, investigations of the morphological changes that are associated with the pathology in the spinal cord have so far not be performed. These may be required to better understand the role of movement disorders in Alzheimer`s disease patients.
The specific aim of the project is to assess morphological changes in the cervical cord of patients with Alzheimer`s disease by analysing structural magnetic resonance imaging data.
To this end, longitudinal data sets containing structural magnetic resonance imaging data, positron emission tomography and clinical data are available.
Students with interest and experience in medicine, biomedical engineering, computational sciences, and image processing are encouraged to apply.
The specific goals include:
1) To apply algorithms (SPM, Matlab) to assess regional atrophy in the cervical spinal cord using structural magnetic resonance imaging data
2) To statistically relate the morphological changes to the degree of cognitive impairment and tau load (from pre-analyzed positron emission tomography data)
The specific goals include: 1) To apply algorithms (SPM, Matlab) to assess regional atrophy in the cervical spinal cord using structural magnetic resonance imaging data 2) To statistically relate the morphological changes to the degree of cognitive impairment and tau load (from pre-analyzed positron emission tomography data)
Prof. Dr. Jan Klohs
Institute for Biomedical Engineering
University of Zurich and ETH Zurich
https://www.pi.ethz.ch/
Contact by Email: klohs@biomed.ee.ethz.ch
Prof. Dr. Jan Klohs Institute for Biomedical Engineering University of Zurich and ETH Zurich https://www.pi.ethz.ch/