A Novel and non-invasive fMRI Biomarker of Neurodegenerative Disease

Reference #: 2013-033

OTC Contact: Ruchika Nijhara, Ph.D., MBA, CLP (Directory Information | Send a Message)

Categories: Diagnostics“; “Research Tools

DESCRIPTION

Synaptic dysfunction is common in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), which is characterized by the loss of synapses in the brain. Hcorr, or local regional heterogeneity, is a novel and non-invasive fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) biomarker, which can effectively estimate synaptic dysfunction across brain regions through an fMRI scan. The direct measurement of those synaptic dysfunctions has been technically difficult and practically impossible, until now. We have convincing evidence suggesting that our technique can effectively predict progression of disease, and assess therapy effects in a much more effective and accurate manner than previous methods.

APPLICATION

ADVANTAGES

STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT

Through three separate human studies, Hcorr has distinguished itself as a more accurate predictor of fMRI responses in the brain than conventional methods. In one study, Hcorr demonstrated that it could accurately detect early changes in the brain prior to the onset of behavioral systems in a study of HIV-positive women. In a separate study, Hcorr was able to quantitatively predict a behavioral assay’s score during two separate instances several months apart, thus suggesting that Hcorr is an ideal alternate measure to behavioral assays when assessing Alzheimer’s progression and/or therapy effect.

RELEVANT PUBLICATIONS

“A quantitative link between face discrimination deficits and neuronal selectivity for faces in autism”. Jiang et al., NeuroImage: Clinical, 2013. doi: 10.1016/j.nicl.2013.02.002.

“A novel technique to probe neural selectivity in absence of fMRI adaptation”. Jiang et al., Georgetown University Medical Center, 2011. Abstract.

“The heterogeneity of local regional correlation in hippocampus and caudate predicts behavioral performance in old adults”. Howard et al., Neuroscience, 2011. Abstract.

“Evidence for a relationship between the heterogeneity of local regional correlations within the VWFA and reading ability”. Eden et al., Society for Neuroscience, 2011. Abstract.

Press Release: “Difficulty in Recognizing Faces in Autism Linked to Performance in a Group of Neurons.” http://explore.georgetown.edu/news/?ID=69555&PageTemplateID=295

PATENT STATUS

Patent Pending

INVENTOR

Xiong Jang, Maximilian Riesenhuber