Correlation Between MMSE And Amido Proton Transfer,Magnetic Sensitivity Weighted Imaging In Alzheimer's Disease

Objects: To evaluate the correlation between the phase values of amido proton transfer(APT)imaging,magnetic sensitivity weighted imaging(SWI)and the scores of mini mental state examination in patients with Alzheimer's disease(AD).Methods: 20 AD patients and 20 age and gender matched normal controls were selected for routine skull sequence,SWI and APT imaging.The asymmetric magnetization transfer ratio(MTRasym)and phase value of amide protons(at 3.5 ppm)in the region of interest were measured by selecting bilateral hippocampus,amygdala and substantia nigra on the APT image and SWI phase map of the transection position.All subjects were assessed with mini mental state examination(MMSE).The difference of MTRasym(3.5ppm)and phase value between normal control group and AD group was compared.Spearman correlation was used to analyze the correlation between the value of MTRasym(3.5 ppm),phase value and MMSE score.The data were statistically analyzed by SPSS 23.0 software.The difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).Results: the MTRasym(3.5ppm)value of bilateral hippocampus in AD group was significantly higher than that in normal control group [right side:(1.39 ± 0.17)% and(0.88 ± 0.29)%,t = 4.444,P = 0.000;left side:(1.42 ± 0.31)% and(0.91 ± 0.36)%,t =3.867,P = 0.000].The phase value of bilateral hippocampus and substantia nigra in AD group was lower than that in normal control group(P < 0.05).The MTRasym(3.5ppm)value of bilateral hippocampus was negatively correlated with MMSE score(r =-0.615 on the right,P = 0.000;r =-0.538 on the left,P = 0.001),and the phase value of bilateral hippocampus(r = 0.437 on the right,P = 0.025;r = 0.52 on the left,P = 0.017 and substantia nigra(r = 0.59 on the right,P = 0.015;r = 0.893 on the left,P = 0.000)was positively correlated with MMSE score.Conclusion: APT and SWI imaging can detect the protein content and iron content in hippocampus and substantia nigra of AD patients sensitively,which is correlated with MMSE evaluation results,and it is helpful for AD diagnosis.