Professor Mathews Jacob of the University of Virginia has secured a $3.9 million grant to advance his innovative research into detecting early-stage Alzheimer’s disease. Jacob, who specializes in electrical and computer engineering, is working with researchers from the University of Iowa and the University of California-San Francisco to push the boundaries of imaging technology that tracks metabolic changes in the brain -; offering a fresh perspective on studying neurodegenerative disorders.
Their focus is on advancing magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI). Unlike standard MRI, which mainly highlights structural changes, MRSI digs deeper into the brain’s chemistry to reveal subtle shifts that could signal early signs of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. However, current MRSI techniques face challenges such as low resolution and sensitivity, limiting their clinical use.
The team’s mission is to improve this technology, with the goal of clearer images and more accurate data. By refining MRSI to better target specific brain regions, they hope to turn it into a crucial tool for diagnosing neurodegenerative diseases much sooner than we can now. This breakthrough could allow doctors to screen for Alzheimer’s disease and other conditions before symptoms even occur, paving the way for earlier and more effective treatments.
By detecting the subtle changes in brain metabolism early in the disease, we hope to give doctors a powerful tool to intervene earlier, which could make a profound difference in treatment outcomes and patients’ lives.”
Mathews Jacob, Professor, University of Virginia
Jacob’s project, funded by the National Institutes of Health, will span five years. His co-principal investigators include Vincent Magnotta, professor of radiology at the University of Iowa, and Yan Li, associate professor of radiology at UCSF. Together, they aim to bring new clarity to how metabolic changes in the brain are linked to Alzheimer’s disease, hoping to improve both diagnosis and patient care.