MR Imaging of Neurodegeneration

Neurodegeneration is an acquired clinical syndrome involving cognitive impairments, predominantly in memory and executive functions, in turn affecting activities of daily living and quality of life. Neuroimaging has become a standard tool in the clinical work up of patients presenting with dementia, alongside behavioral and cognitive assessments. This chapter explores the protocol considerations and application of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in dementia, addressing both qualitative and quantitative analytical approaches. Role of advanced imaging techniques such as diffusion MRI, resting functional MRI, spectroscopy, and arterial spin labeling in various dementia subtypes is also detailed. A brief mention is made on treatable and reversible dementias, highlighting important imaging findings. The final section discusses more recent advances, with 7 Tesla imaging, quantity susceptibility imaging, and quantitative gradient recalled echo imaging.