7T MRI study of brain changes in Dementia with Lewy bodies
Research type
Research Study
Full title
7T MRI study examining brain structure, iron deposition and inflammation in individuals with Dementia with Lewy bodies and control subjects.
IRAS ID
211342
Contact name
John T O'Brien
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Cambridge
Duration of Study in the UK
4 years, 6 months, 1 days
Research summary
We will investigate the changes seen in the brains of individuals with Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) compared to healthy older-adults, using 7T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
DLB presents with core triad of clinical symptoms: fluctuating cognition, visual hallucinations and involuntary movement disorder. Although it is the second commonest form of degenerative dementia in older people, it is under-recognised clinically and our understanding of how and why it develops is limited. A greater understanding of DLB may ultimately lead to improvements in diagnosis, the identification of ‘at risk’ individuals, the development of biomarkers via which progression of DLB and/ or response to treatments can be monitored, and the identification of novel treatment targets via better understanding of underpinning disease mechanisms.
Autopsy and brain imaging studies (using positron emission tomography (PET) and standard (1.5 or 3T) field strength MRI) suggest a number of changes in the brains of individuals with DLB, including changes in structure and neurochemistry. However, it has proved challenging to visualise some changes using MRI at current field strengths due to difficulties such as insufficient resolution and limited sensitivity to metabolic and chemical changes. Advantages of 7T MRI include improved image resolution, greater sensitivity to paramagnetic substances in the brain (such as iron) and greater sensitivity to markers of inflammatory and metabolic change seen on spectroscopy.
Volunteers who have a diagnosis of DLB and older cognitively-normal control participants will undergo 7T MRI scanning at the Wolfson Brain Imaging Centre in Cambridge. The participants will also undergo cognitive and clinical examination and will have blood tests taken. The initial phase of the study, gathering pilot data from 6 participants in each group will run from January to August 2017. Data will be gathered from a further 18-24 participants in each group commencing in August 2018.
REC name
East of England - Cambridge Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/EE/0418
Date of REC Opinion
29 Dec 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion