Core F: Biomarker/Neuroimaging Core

ABSTRACT – BIOMARKER/NEUROIMAGING CORE
The overall goal of the proposed Biomarker/Neuroimaging Core in the Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Research
Center (Rush ADRC) is to build a resource of neuroimaging data on participants of the Rush ADRC and
ancillary studies, and provide neuroimaging expertise to facilitate high quality, cutting edge, externally funded
research focusing on the transition from normal aging to mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to the earliest stages
of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and other dementias. Specifically, the Biomarker/Neuroimaging Core will integrate
high quality, multi-modal, longitudinal in-vivo and ex-vivo brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data and
newly collected positron emission tomography (PET) data from participants of the Rush ADRC and separately
funded studies, all based on state-of-the-art, uniform data acquisition protocols. The Biomarker/Neuroimaging
Core will perform thorough quality checks and detailed processing of the in-vivo and ex-vivo MRI data in the
database to generate rich output on macro-structural, micro-structural, chemical, and functional brain
characteristics and on novel classifiers of vascular and neurodegenerative processes in the older adult brain.
Quality checks and processing of the PET data will be conducted by SCAN (Standardized Centralized
Alzheimer’s and Related Dementias Neuroimaging). The Biomarker/Neuroimaging Core of the Rush ADRC will
widely distribute all brain MRI and PET data and processing results to investigators within and outside of the
Rush ADRC, and will provide neuroimaging expertise in support of research efforts in normal aging, cognitive
decline, mild cognitive impairment, AD and related dementias. The proposed Biomarker/Neuroimaging Core
will build upon strengths of the Rush ADRC including A) longitudinal clinical assessment of persons who enroll
without dementia, B) longitudinal ante-mortem biofluid collection, and C) post-mortem biospecimen collection
from large numbers of persons, many without dementia. The contributions of the Biomarker/Neuroimaging
Core will stimulate research that A) develops novel MRI-based classifiers of age-related neuropathologies, B)
elucidates brain mechanisms supporting cognitive and motor health or leading to decline, C) evaluates the
effects of risk factors on the brain, D) links neuroimaging to multi-level omics, E) supports the development and
validation of novel biomarkers based on peripheral blood and retinal imaging, and F) ascertains the role of
various brain characteristics in racial/ethnic disparities of cognitive aging related outcomes.

Grant Number: 5P30AG072975-05
NIH Institute/Center: NIH
Principal Investigator: Konstantinos Arfanakis