Objective: The objective of the proposed pilot study is to investigate the possibility of detecting early signs of Alzheimer's Disease (AD) using high field (7T) MRI. If plaques can be imaged by MRI, the procedure could be used as a measure of efficacy in clinical trials of AD, and replace more invasive methods such as positron emission tomography (PET). This procedure might also be helpful in the clinical diagnosis of patients. Study Population: The target population is a group of 20 Alzheimer's patients with mild cognitive impairment. As reference, an age-matched control group (n=20) will be recruited from the normal adult population. Design: Our working hypothesis is that high resolution MRI at 7T allows detection of amyloid plaques in AD. To test this hypothesis, subjects from AD and control population will each undergo an MRI at 7T to image brain structure at high resolution. Brain cortical structures will then be compared between the two groups and investigated for abnormalities. Outcome Measure: As outcome measure of this study, it will be determined if (sub) cortical plaques typical of AD are detectable with high field MRI.
- INCLUSION CRITERIA: - Any neurologically and psychiatrically normal, male or female, healthy volunteer ages 55-90 years old. Participants must be capable of understanding the procedures and requirements of this study and subjects must be willing to sign an informed consent document. Normal controls will demonstrate normal function in daily life, based on the Clinical Dementia Rating Scale (CDR). The CDR is administered annually to all JHADRC participants. - AD patients will be required to meet the NINCDS/ADRDA criteria for AD. All patients must be mildly impaired. Severity will be measured by the Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE) and only patients with an MMSE score of 20 - 26 will be included. They must be able to give informed consent. EXCLUSION CRITERIA: - Inability to cooperate. - A subject will be excluded if he/she has a contraindication to MR scanning such as the following: claustrophobia, pregnancy, aneurysm clip; implanted neural stimulator; implanted cardiac pacemaker or auto-defibrillator; cochlear implant; ocular foreign body (e.g. metal shavings) or insulin pump. - Subjects who underwent brain surgery, or other neurological disease (e.g., stroke, Parkinson's disease, significant brain vascular disease, brain trauma). - Evidence of cerebrovascular risk factors, including diabetes, arrhythmias, and lacunar infarcts seen on MRI. - History of vertigo, seizure disorder, middle-ear disorder, and double vision. - Active major psychiatric illness. - Dental work such as ferromagnetic crowns or bridges.