Development of PET-MRS methodology for neurodegenerative diseases v7
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Developing and evaluating advanced PET-MRS methodology for neurodegenerative diseases
IRAS ID
252151
Contact name
Andrew Blamire
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
NuTH NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
There are currently no drugs which act effectively to prevent neurodegeneration in patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), underlining the need for greater understanding of the mechanisms behind the condition.
There is a long-standing hypothesis in dementia research that mitochondria (the organelles in every cell which create the energy most cells need to survive) are dysfunctional and contribute to the events which lead to loss of cognitive function.
Reduced energy use in regions at the back of the brain (called posterior glucose hypometabolism) is a key observation in AD patients and is measured using fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography (FDG-PET) imaging. It has been hypothesised that this hypometabolism is driven by abnormal mitochondrial activity, but this has not been fully tested, as mitochondrial function has never been measured directly in the living brain in patients with AD.
This research will test a new method which simultaneously measures both brain glucose metabolism, using FDG-PET, and mitochondrial function, using phosphorus-31 Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (31P-MRS). 31P-MRS is a non-invasive technique for measuring the concentration of high-energy phosphorus containing metabolites. Our new method allows the overall levels of these molecules to be determined, but importantly also measures the rate at which they are produced, which tells us about the function of the mitochondria.
In addition to its importance for AD, this methodology may aid understanding of the mechanisms underpinning mitochondrial disease (MD). This patient group demonstrate significant structural changes in the brain; however, here too, the relationship between these changes and mitochondrial function has not been studied in vivo.
This is a pilot study of our new PET-MRS methodology, to obtain the first ever data in patients with AD and MD. This will provide informative data to power more comprehensive studies into the role of mitochondrial dysfunction in patients with neurodegenerative diseases
REC name
London - Bromley Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/LO/0793
Date of REC Opinion
29 Jun 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion