The Alzheimer's disease neuroimaging initiative (ADNI): MRI methods

• Published in: Journal of magnetic resonance imaging Vol. 27; no. 4; pp. 685 - 691
• Main Authors: Jack Jr, Clifford R., Bernstein, Matt A., Fox, Nick C., Thompson, Paul, Alexander, Gene, Harvey, Danielle, Borowski, Bret, Britson, Paula J., L. Whitwell, Jennifer, Ward, Chadwick, Dale, Anders M., Felmlee, Joel P., Gunter, Jeffrey L., Hill, Derek L.G., Killiany, Ron, Schuff, Norbert, Fox-Bosetti, Sabrina, Lin, Chen, Studholme, Colin, DeCarli, Charles S., Gunnar Krueger, Ward, Heidi A., Metzger, Gregory J., Scott, Katherine T., Mallozzi, Richard, Blezek, Daniel, Levy, Joshua, Debbins, Josef P., Fleisher, Adam S., Albert, Marilyn, Green, Robert, Bartzokis, George, Glover, Gary, Mugler, John, Weiner, Michael W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01.04.2008
• Subjects: Aged; Alzheimer Disease - diagnosis; Alzheimer Disease - pathology; Alzheimer's disease; Brain - pathology; clinical trials; Humans; imaging methods; imaging standardization; Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods; Magnetic Resonance Imaging - standards; MRI; Review
• ISSN: 1053-1807; 1522-2586
• DOI: 10.1002/jmri.21049

The Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) is a longitudinal multisite observational study of healthy elders, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and Alzheimer's disease. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), (18F)‐fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG PET), urine serum, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers, as well as clinical/psychometric assessments are acquiredat multiple time points. All data will be cross‐linked and made available to the general scientific community. The purpose of this report is to describe the MRI methods employed in ADNI. The ADNI MRI core established specifications thatguided protocol development. A major effort was devoted toevaluating 3D T1‐weighted sequences for morphometric analyses. Several options for this sequence were optimized for the relevant manufacturer platforms and then compared in a reduced‐scale clinical trial. The protocol selected for the ADNI study includes: back‐to‐back 3D magnetization prepared rapid gradient echo (MP‐RAGE) scans; B1‐calibration scans when applicable; and an axial proton density‐T2 dual contrast (i.e., echo) fast spin echo/turbo spin echo (FSE/TSE) for pathology detection. ADNI MRI methods seek to maximize scientific utility while minimizing the burden placed on participants. The approach taken in ADNI to standardization across sites and platforms of the MRI protocol, postacquisition corrections, and phantom‐based monitoring of all scanners could be used as a model for other multisite trials. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.