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ABSTRACT: Background/objective
Structural brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is not mandatory in Alzheimer's disease (AD) research or clinical guidelines. We aimed to explore the use of structural brain MRI in AD/mild cognitive impairment (MCI) trials over the past 10 years and determine the frequency with which inclusion of standardized structural MRI acquisitions detects comorbid vascular and non-vascular pathologies.Methods
We systematically searched ClinicalTrials.gov for AD clinical trials to determine their neuroimaging criteria and then used data from an AD/MCI cohort who underwent standardized MRI protocols, to determine type and incidence of clinically relevant comorbid pathologies.Results
Of 210 AD clinical trials, 105 (50%) included structural brain imaging in their eligibility criteria. Only 58 (27.6%) required MRI. 16,479 of 53,755 (30.7%) AD participants were in trials requiring MRI. In the observational AD/MCI cohort, 141 patients met clinical criteria; 22 (15.6%) had relevant MRI findings, of which 15 (10.6%) were exclusionary for the study.Discussion
In AD clinical trials over the last 10 years, over two-thirds of participants could have been enrolled without brain MRI and half without even a brain CT. In a study sample, relevant comorbid pathology was found in 15% of participants, despite careful screening. Standardized structural MRI should be incorporated into NIA-AA diagnostic guidelines (when available) and research frameworks routinely to reduce diagnostic heterogeneity.
SUBMITTER: Kapoor A
PROVIDER: S-EPMC7242844 | biostudies-literature | 2020
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Kapoor Arunima A Bartha Robert R Black Sandra E SE Borrie Michael M Freedman Morris M Gao Fuqiang F Herrmann Nathan N Mandzia Jennifer J Ozzoude Miracle M Ramirez Joel J Scott Christopher J M CJM Symons Sean S Fischer Corinne E CE Frank Andrew A Seitz Dallas D Wolf Michael Uri MU Verhoeff Nicolaas Paul L G NPLG Naglie Gary G Reichman William W Masellis Mario M Mitchell Sara B SB Tang-Wai David F DF Tartaglia Maria Carmela MC Kumar Sanjeev S Pollock Bruce G BG Rajji Tarek K TK Finger Elizabeth E Pasternak Stephen H SH Swartz Richard H RH
Journal of Alzheimer's disease : JAD 20200101 3
<h4>Background/objective</h4>Structural brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is not mandatory in Alzheimer's disease (AD) research or clinical guidelines. We aimed to explore the use of structural brain MRI in AD/mild cognitive impairment (MCI) trials over the past 10 years and determine the frequency with which inclusion of standardized structural MRI acquisitions detects comorbid vascular and non-vascular pathologies.<h4>Methods</h4>We systematically searched ClinicalTrials.gov for AD clinic ...[more]