Alzheimer's brain and control brain show distinct ultrashort echo time magnetization transfer ratio (UTE-MTR): an ex vivo study

Motivation: Alzheimer’s disease is a degenerative brain disorder. Conventional MRI primarily focuses on quantifying the volume of the hippocampus and gray matter (GM). Goal(s): This study employed ultrashort echo time magnetization transfer ratio (UTE-MTR) mapping to identify myelin changes in white matter (WM) and grey matter (GM) within brain samples from AD and regular donors. Approach: Six ROIs were selected for each specimen, comprising three WM regions and three GM regions. Results: The UTE-MTR values of both WM and GM from AD donors were lower than those of controls, indicating the capability of UTE-MTR to detect myelin loss in individuals with AD. Impact: Decreased UTE-MTR values of WM and GM were found in AD brains compared to control brains, indicating myelin loss in AD brain regions. This biomarker provides valuable assistance for the diagnosis of AD.