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Portable MR shows promise for Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis and monitoring

por Gus Iversen, Editor in Chief | December 17, 2024
Alzheimers/Neurology MRI
Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital have demonstrated that combining portable, low-field MR with AI can measure brain markers associated with Alzheimer’s disease as accurately as conventional high-field systems.

The findings, published in Nature Communications, highlight the potential of Hyperfine's Swoop system to improve access to critical brain imaging.

MR is a key tool for detecting structural brain changes tied to cognitive decline in Alzheimer's patients, but the cost and infrastructure requirements of conventional systems limit availability in many regions. Low-field systems, which operate with a magnetic field 50 times weaker, are smaller, more portable, and less expensive. These features make them suitable for low-resource settings, but image quality has traditionally been a challenge.
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To address this, the research team developed machine learning algorithms that enhance low-field MR images by training them on data sets of matched high-field and low-field MR scans. The algorithm focused on key brain structures affected by Alzheimer's, such as the hippocampus, and white matter hyperintensity regions, which indicate neurodegeneration or vascular issues. In a study of 54 patients with mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer's-related dementia, the low-field measurements closely aligned with high-field benchmarks.

“We envision a future where a person with cognitive complaints visiting a primary care physician, geriatrician or neurologist can get a brain scan, a blood test and a cognitive test, all in a single visit," said Dr. W. Taylor Kimberly, chief of the Division of Neurocritical Care at MGH and senior author of the study. "Low-cost, easier to deploy technology can help provide information to clinicians, right at the bedside.”

Proponents of low-field MR believe the technology could someday expand neuroimaging to emergency rooms, community health centers, and underserved regions. Although further regulatory and clinical validation is needed, the technology may also streamline monitoring for patients receiving emerging Alzheimer's treatments.

The study received support from Hyperfine Inc., the National Institutes of Health, and other organizations.

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