Changes in Brain Connectivity May Assist in Early Alzheimer’s Detection

Neuroscientists at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) utilized novel brain imaging analysis techniques to detect subtle differences in brain function of older adults with preclinical Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Their work was published in the journal Brain Connectivity.

Preclinical AD is the earliest sign of disease, with the buildup of amyloid-beta proteins in the brain, yet individuals exhibit no noticeable symptoms of cognitive decline. The team, led by Andreana Benitez and Stephanie Fountain-Zaragoza, used a functional connectome to measure how different brain regions communicate. 

To do this, they used a highly sensitive form of image analysis to detect changes in brain function in 149 participants aged 45 to 85 with no signs of cognitive decline. The participants underwent PET scans of their brains and were divided into two groups – those with and without PET scan evidence of early amyloid-beta protein buildup.

The researchers found that certain changes in the brain fingerprint were associated with worse information processing in participants with amyloid-beta build up, or preclinical AD. The study shows that individualized functional connectomes can detect subtle variations in brain function that could be missed with other conventional brain imaging analysis techniques. Their results suggest that the early stages of amyloid-beta buildup could affect the function of brain networks even before symptoms of cognitive decline become noticeable.

The scientists plan to continue their work on preclinical AD, focusing more on how brain changes affect disease progression and exploring new treatments, such as brain stimulation, which may help slow it. Understanding the earliest signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease is vital for identifying who might be at risk of developing it and for understanding the full spectrum of the disease.

While there is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s, discoveries like these provide hope for early detection to potentially slow its progression. The study reveals that changes in connectivity within and between specific brain networks may indicate early problems with information processing, making this imbalance in connectivity a good target for therapies to improve outcomes for patients with AD.