Evaluation of Usage fMRI in Alzheimer’s Disease Diagnose

Abstract

Background: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a state where neurons within the brain stop functioning, lose connection with other neurons and die. It’s the most common cause of dementia, a loss of brain function that can harmfully impact memory, thinking, language, judgment and behavior. Alzheimer’s is irreversible and progressive. Although the cause of Alzheimer’s disease is unknown, scientists believe that a build-up of beta-amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain are associated with the disease. Medications that slow the progression of the disease and manage symptoms are available, but there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease. Current diagnosis of AD is through clinical, neuropsychological, and neuroimaging assessments. Functional MRI (fMRI) measures brain activity during a cognitive, sensory, or motor task or at rest by measuring changes in blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) MR signal.