Development of a non-invasive method to observe oxygen metabolism in the brain for diagnosis of dementia

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K20665
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Studies on the Super-Aging Society
• Research Institution: Kochi University
• Principal Investigator: Tsuda Masashi 高知大学, 教育研究部総合科学系複合領域科学部門, 教授 (10261322)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-07-30 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 磁気共鳴イメージング

Outline of Final Research Achievements

To develop MRI techniques for direct observation of 17O water in vivo, we investigated the quantitative evaluation of 17O-labeled water in vitro and in vivo as well as measurements of 17O-chemical shift imaging. We made a 17O/1H double resonance coil, and optimal imaging conditions for multivoxel 17O-MRS were established. Healthy mice and Alzheimer's disease model mice were treated with 17O water or 17O gas, and multivoxel MRS imaging of the mice brains was observed. The patterns of 17O-CSI images and water production in brains were examined.

Free Research Field

物理系薬学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究成果から脳のミトコンドリア機能を酸素代謝として可視化する基本技術につながるものと期待され、新たなADの診断技術、あるいはAD治療薬の新たなスクリーニング法の開発に繋がるものと期待され、いまだ根本的治療法のない認知症治療や研究に有用であると期待される。