Glucose-enhanced MRI for detection of altered glucose transport
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Glucose-enhanced MRI for detection of altered glucose transport in dementia
IRAS ID
261229
Contact name
Laura M Parkes
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Manchester
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
Research Summary
Glucose uptake into the brain is reduced in patients with dementia and is an important measurement to understand disease mechanisms and monitor progression. Brain imaging with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) can measure glucose uptake but it is expensive, requires invasive sampling of blood from an artery, and carries the risks associated with a radiation dose. This is a feasibility study to optimise and validate a non-invasive method to measure glucose uptake using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), scan, called glucose-enhanced MRI (GE-MRI). We will use simultaneous PET-MR in order to compare GE-MRI against FDG-PET.The GE-MRI measurements scans will be optimised on healthy participants. Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and age-matched cognitively normal (CN) controls will then be recruited into the study as proof of principle that GE-MRI can detect glucose uptake differences between these groups. Participants will be screened via telephone interview, and invited to visit 1 if eligible. On visit 1, cognitive testing and blood samples will be done to further test eligibility.
On the second visit, GE-MRI and FDG-PET will be performed on each participant which will involve laying on a scanner bed for 60-90 minutes while glucose tracers are injected. Blood samples will be taken to measure blood glucose concentration. A small number of healthy controls will return for a visit 3 in which we will acquire GE-MRI-only (no FDG-PET) to assess repeatability of the MRI measurements.
Participants will be recruited from Greater Manchester area using join dementia research initiative and adverts placed in public places. The research is funded by the Medical Research Council.
Summary of Results
The study conducted glucose-enhanced MRI scans on n = 12 healthy volunteers for the purpose of optimising glucose-CEST MRI. Some scans were successful, but we encountered problems with a substantial proportion of the scans, which rendered most data un-useable. The study did not proceed to scanning patients with mild-cognitive impairment due to delays caused by COVID-19. The study funding expired and we were unable to continue.REC name
North West - Greater Manchester East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/NW/0392
Date of REC Opinion
4 Jul 2019
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion