Evaluation of the Diagnostic Efficacy of Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Neurodegenerative Diseases: A Systematic Review of the Literature

ABSTARCT: Introduction Neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, present complex clinical challenges due to the difficulty in achieving an accurate early diagnosis. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has proven useful in identifying brain changes before clinical symptoms appear. However, its diagnostic efficacy compared to other methods, such as positron emission tomography (PET), remains under debate. Objective To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of MRI in neurodegenerative diseases through a systematic review of the literature. Methods A systematic review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses evaluating the diagnostic accuracy of MRI in neurodegenerative diseases was conducted. Studies comparing MRI with other methods, such as CT or biomarkers, were included. Sensitivity, specificity, and ROC curves were assessed. Results Eight studies were included in the review. Structural MRI showed a sensitivity of 73% and a specificity of 71% for early detection of Alzheimer's in patients with mild cognitive impairment. In Parkinson's disease, functional MRI detected functional alterations with a significant reduction in the Amplitude of Low-Frequency Fluctuations in key motor areas. The combination of MRI with PET improved diagnostic accuracy, especially in the early diagnosis of Alzheimer's. Discussion The results highlight the potential of MRI for the early diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases, although combining it with PET appears to offer greater diagnostic accuracy. Emerging techniques, such as MRI spectroscopy and elastography, could further improve early detection, though more studies are needed to standardize their use.