Abstract

The development of an accurate marker for Alzheimers disease (AD) at the earliest stage is an important public health goal. Modern neuroimaging techniques offer one potential approach to identify a marker for AD. This review focuses on the detection of alterations in brain perfusion as a potentially sensitive index of AD pathology using arterial spin labeling (ASL) perfusion mapping – a relatively new variant of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Key findings of ASL perfusion studies in AD mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a transitional stage between normal aging and AD as well as in other forms of dementia are discussed. Furthermore, the value of ASL-MRI for improved diagnosis and prediction of AD is critically reviewed.

Keywords: Magnetic resonance imaging, cerebral blood flow, Alzheimer's disease, mild cognitive impairment, ASL- MRI, CASL, PASL, MCI, PET, FTD