0-TESTO COMPLETO.pdf - Fondazione Santa Lucia

RF07.39.2 – Diagnosis of incipient Alzheimer disease: development of ADNI-based imaging…
detect the disease in comparison to more consolidated techniques such as
structural MRI and FDG PET. Reduced efficiency in cortico-cortical connectivity
obtained from TMS and MEG studies has been reported [Rossini et al.
(2007) Prog Neurobiol].
What the project adds to the information already available
The project will lead to:
1. Develop procedures for the collection of Alzheimer’s markers that can
potentially be immediately adopted by Italian (and international) memory
clinics. This will place Italy as the front runner country in the development of
new strategies for the care of Alzheimer’s disease.
2. Expand knowledge on promising markers that might implement or
replace 3D MR, FDG PET, and CSF in the near future.
The experience on the development of SOPs for the “ traditional ” 3D MR,
FDG PET, and CSF markers will lead to a particularly quick development of
SOPs for the novel markers such as EEG, MEG and amyloid imaging.
OBJECTIVE(S)
The main aims of this project are: 1) To develop SOPs and QC procedures
in order to estimate the volumes of the hippocampus, amygdala and
enthorinal cortex on high resolution MR images acquired using the ADNI MP-
RAGE protocol. SOPs and QC will be developed to evaluate the glucose
metabolism in bilateral temporoparietal regions detected on FDG PET images
acquired using the NEST-DD protocol. 2) To better investigate the validity of
markers based on power and consistency of EEG cortical sources measured
at rest and based on the intra-cortical connectivity through TMS and MEG /
EEG and to develop the pertinent SOPs and QC. 3) to better investigate the
validity of the b-amyloid molecular imaging using the F18-DDNP for the preclinical
diagnosis of AD.
The secondary aim is early diffusion of the SOPs in the clinical practice.
Indeed, the project will involve a number of Italian Centres of Excellence
(IRCCS) as “b testers ” of SOPs. b test centres will be led to use the SOPs in
their clinical work, thus disseminating these techniques.
These will be available to all experts centres on the national territory,
which will be able to detect AD markers with a level of accuracy and reproducibility
comparable to those of any other laboratory examination.
GENERAL TRANSFERIBILITY AND POTENTIAL IMPACT OF RESULTS
The SOPs and QC protocols will be developed with the collaboration
of and for use by the Italian Centres of Excellence (IRCCS’s). Therefore, the
protocols will be immediately transferable to all National Health Service
Institutes.
The financial sustainability of the detection of the markers in the Experts
National Health Service Institutes will be illustrated elsewhere in the Strategic
2009 711