Magnetic Resonance Imaging for the Study of Patients With Neurological Disorders

We wish to use MRI technology to study brain structure (Part 1) and function (Part 2) in several neurological disorders and in normal controls. In Part 1 of this protocol, we describe our interest in using detailed MRI brain structure analysis to identify predicted specific neural structure atrophy in patients with selective amnesia and dementia and to attempt to associate the magnitude of atrophy in these neural structures with performance on selected memory tests. In Part 2 of this protocol, we outline our interest in utilizing newly developed MRI techniques to identify selective changes in local brain blood volume, blood flow, and other physiological parameters during functional stimulation. Recent developments permit recording of MRI signals that are indicative of regional cerebral blood volume and blood flow changes. Local changes in these physiological measures appear to topographically overlap with expected areas of functional brain activation. The advantage of this method over Positron Emission Tomography is the exquisite spatial resolution of MRI. This MRI technique is new and has had only limited use so far. The studies in Part 2 of this protocol should help develop the method and begin to answer fundamental biological and functional questions about the representation and activation of cognitive, motor, and sensory functions.

Inclusion criteria

Subjects between the ages of 18 and 80.

Exclusion criteria

Patient must be able to give informed consent.

Patients with ferromagnetic objects in their bodies which might be adversely affected by MRI (surgical clips or metal fragments in or near brain, eye or blood vessels, cardiac or neurological pacemaker, cochlear impairments) will be excluded.

Pregnant or lactating women will be excluded. A pregnancy test will be administered to women of childbearing age.