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Robust Cortical Thickness Measurement from MRI |
| M.A.Sc. Student: Eli Gibson |
| Principal Investigator: Faisal Beg |
This project focuses on the development of robust computational tools for the measurement of cortical thickness. Cortical thickness is a measure of brain shape that has been found to change in some neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's Disease, AIDS, and Parkinson's Disease. Reliable thickness measurements may lead to techniques for early diagnosis of these diseases, as well as distinguishing between diseases with similar cognitive effects. |
MR Neurography in the Central Nervous System
As many neurodegenerative diseases progress, they change the shape of the brain. The ability to identify these changes may lead to early, or differential diagnoses that can improve treatments. For example, Alzheimer's Disease is the most common cause of dementia in western countries, and no reliable treatments to reverse or slow down dementia. Vascular dementia is the second most common cause of dementia, and while there are no treatments to reverse dementia, early aggressive stroke prevention treatments may slow the onset of dementia, with many accompanying side effect. Identifying anatomical differences between Vascular Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease would allow patients with Alzheimer's to avoid the side effects of an ineffective Vascular Dementia treatment. The MIAL develops and evaluates tools for the measurement of brain changes. One component of the MR neurography work performed in the MIAL uses novel and existing techniques for measuring cortical thickness to analyze neurodegenerative diseases. Cortical thickness is a measure of brain shape that has been found to change in some neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's Disease, AIDS, and Parkinson's Disease. However, accurately and robustly measuring thickness, although seemingly trivial, is an difficult task. There is no commonly accepted definition of thickness, making accurate measurement ill-defined. Furthermore, the robustness of thickness measurement techniques to changes in nearby tissues has not been well studied. In the MIAL, we are pushing forward the development and evaluation of these measurement techniques, and their application to disease analysis using large longitudinal and cross-sections MRI studies. Other aspects of the MR neurography work on the central nervous system performed in the MIAL can be found here: 1, 2, 3.
Links:
Dr. Faisal Beg's website (http://www.ensc.sfu.ca/~mfbeg) |
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