Adiabatic T1ρ and MB-SWIFT resting-state fMRI for Monitoring Alzheimer’s Disease Progression in TGF344 Rats

Motivation: Alzheimer's disease (AD) poses challenges in early diagnosis and intervention. Goal(s): To explore novel MRI techniques for detecting early progression of AD. Approach: Standard T1, adiabatic T1ρ and functional connectivity were measured in TGF344 rats and wild-type rats at 6-months and 12-months to evaluate brain microstructural and functional metrics over time. Results: Significant group differences in T1ρ were observed in medial entorhinal and postrhinal cortices at 6-months, indicating early microstructural alterations. No group-differences were seen in T1 or at 12-months. Resting-state fMRI revealed different evolutions in connectivity over time across groups, suggesting functional reorganization associated with the disease. Impact: These findings highlight the potential of adiabatic T1ρ and resting-state fMRI as valuable tools in evaluating Alzheimer's disease progression, paving the way for future research focused on early diagnosis and intervention strategies.