Molecular Neuroimaging of Neuroinflammation in Neurodegenerative Dementias
Neuroinflammation is increasingly implicated as a potential critical pathogenic mechanism in a variety of neurologic and psychiatric disorders. This study will use hybrid PET/MRI imaging to evaluate neuroinflammation and its relationship to cerebral perfusion in frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Patients with FTD will be recruited from the Cognitive Neurology and Aging Brain clinics at Parkwood Institute and will undergo neurocognitive assessment and MRI/PET using the PET ligand FEPPA which binds to activated microglia, a marker of neuroinflammation. Correlations will be conducted to determine whether abnormal neuroinflammation is present in Frontotemporal dementia and whether differential patterns of neuroinflammation are present in different FTD clinical and molecular subtypes, and to determine the relationship between neuroinflammation, cerebral perfusion using arterial spin labeling MRI imaging techniques, and indices of brain structure including volumetric and white matter analysis.
• Patients diagnosed with a probable Frontotemporal Dementia or neurologically healthy control participants with no history of neurological problems
• Study partner is available who has frequent contact with the subject and can accompany the subject to all clinic visits for the duration of the protocol.
• Visual and auditory acuity adequate for neuropsychological testing
• Good general health with no diseases expected to interfere with the study.
• Subject is not pregnant, lactating, or of childbearing potential (i.e. women must be two years post-menopausal, surgically sterile or practicing an effective form of family planning
• Willing to participate in a longitudinal imaging study at 12 months.
• Willing to undergo MRI (3Tesla)/ PET scan (with FEPPA ligand) and no medical contraindications to MRI.