Page 78 - Annual Report 2018

and inflammation: Adiponectin/Acrp30, P-Selectin, tural changes who have been described in post-
ICAM-1, IL-6, MMP-9, Serpin E1/PAI-1, TNF-alpha, mortem studies of brain tissue. Accordingly, the pro-
VCAM-1, CCL2/MCP-1, IL-1 beta, CXCL8/IL-8, E-Se- ject aims to conduct a series of studies based on
lectin, MMP-3, and CRP. The usefulness of these bio- various MRI modern techniques that can provide vo-
markers is complementary with the information lumetric quantitative indexes of the morphological
derived from the study of genetic risk markers alre- changes.
ady mentioned and can define risk factors already
revealed in previous studies. In this regard VBM (voxel-based morphometry tech-
niques), based on creating statistical comparisons of
Samples collected and processed to date are sum- gray and white matter patterns are the method of
marized in the table below: choice in research. The discriminatory power of vo-
lumetry in degenerative pathologies such as Alzhei-
mer's disease (volumetric reduction in amygdala,
1st Visit 1,169 hippocampus, entorhinal cortex, etc.) decreases if
age-dependent morphological changes are not
2nd Visit 767
well established in control samples, so that it is critical
3rd Visit 755 to have large, well quantified samples.
4th Visit 699 • Structural Study (3D volumetry, T2 and FLAIR)
Determining the progressive loss of brain
5th Visit 662
volume during aging, especially in white
6th Visit 414 matter provides volumetric quantitative
indexes of the morphological aging-
7th Visit 172 associated changes. In this sense, the VBM
(Voxel-Based Morphometry) techniques,
8th Visit 7
based on creating statistical comparisons of
TOTAL 4,645 gray and white matter patterns constitute the
method of choice, and allows us to
determine the volume reduction of the
amygdala, hippocampus, entorhinal cortex,
4.3.7. Neuroimaging Studies
etc.
Knowing the morphological variations occurring in • Diffusion Study (b: 800)
brain structure throughout life is essential to assess White matter, partly due to Wallerian
the corresponding pathological changes that occur degeneration and partly to reduced
in neurodegenerative diseases. In this context, neu- connectivity by decreased cortical activity,
roimaging techniques such as magnetic resonance presents ultrastructural changes that can be
detected with diffusion techniques (DTI).
imaging (MRI) have led to significant progress in un-
derstanding brain changes associated with age. • Brain Perfusion Study
Cerebral perfusion related to cortical activity
MRI is a noninvasive tool that allows the study of nor- may be assessed -without needing to inject
mal aging individuals at different moments of his life. contrast-through MR sequences (Arterial Spin
However, conventional MRI techniques are unable Labelling, ASL) and therefore hypofunctioning
to detect and quantify age-dependent microstruc- areas will present decreased perfusion.

CIEN Foundation Annual Report 2018 / 78