Ventricular enlargement as a possible measure of Alzheimer's disease progression validated using the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative database

Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia in the elderly. Currently, disease progression is assessed by cognitive tests and patient history, which can be considered as insensitive methods of diagnosis. Alzheimer's disease progression measured from brain changes on magnetic resonance images may provide a more sensitive method to measure disease progression.

Mr. Nestor, as part of a multi-disciplinary team, developed a tool to measure brain volume changes from magnetic resonance images (MRI). This tool was then used to detect changes in MRI's over 6 months in the brains of persons with Alzheimer's disease and healthy controls participating in the National Institutes of Health funded "Alzheimer Disease Neuroimaging Initiative".

Monitoring the progression of Alzheimer's disease from magnetic resonance images may allow for earlier diagnosis of the disease. Moreover, with possible Alzheimer's disease modifying therapies in late stage clinical trials, measuring brain changes may provide a precise method to demonstrate therapeutic efficacy.

This is Mr. Nestor's first primary authorship in the field of aging and Alzheimer's disease. He plans to continue as a scholar in the field of aging and dementia. This study forms the basis of his Master of Science thesis in the department of medical biophysics at the University of Western Ontario.

Currently, in spring 2009, Mr. Nestor is finishing his Master's degree, and then plans to either pursue a Ph.D. in the field of neuroimaging and dementia or enter medical school in the fall of 2009. He is currently working on studies in the field of brain imaging in persons with mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer disease.