PhD Scientific Days 2026

Poster Session 3.N - Neurosciences

Quantitative susceptibility mapping–based microstructural alterations in the early detection of mild cognitive impairment

Előadó neve

Ms. Olasz, Katalin Anna

Neptune code

EXIZN7

Előadó munkahelye

Semmelweis University, Medical Imaging Centre

Előadó telefonszáma

06301607909

Előadó e-mail címe

olasz.katalin@stud.semmelweis.hu

Az előadás címe

Quantitative susceptibility mapping–based microstructural alterations in the early detection of mild cognitive impairment

Szerző(k) neve és munkahelye

Katalin Anna Olasz¹

1: Semmelweis University, Medical Imaging Centre

Bemutatás módja

Poszter

Szekció

Poster Session 3.N - Neurosciences

Language of the presentation

English

Preferred session

Neurosciences

Összefoglaló szövege

Introduction: Quantitative Susceptibility Mapping (QSM) is an MRI phase–based technique that enables highly sensitive assessment of diamagnetic (e.g., myelin) and paramagnetic (e.g., iron, hemosiderin) brain tissues. The method is sensitive to microstructural and iron-associated alterations that emerge during the prodromal stages of neurodegenerative processes, making it a promising tool for the early diagnosis of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI).
Aims: This study aimed to map susceptibility distribution differences between cognitively normal (CN) individuals and subjects with MCI, based on quantitative MRI data from the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative 4 (ADNI4) database.
Methods: A total of 52 subjects (CN: 26, MCI: 26; sex ratio 1:1; age range 70–75 years) were included. T1-weighted MPRAGE and multi-echo gradient echo images acquired on a 3 Tesla Siemens MRI scanner were processed. QSM reconstruction was performed using algorithms developed at the Department of Neuroradiology. Data evaluation was carried out using Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM25), including spatial registration, tissue segmentation, and DARTEL normalisation. Following spatial smoothing with full-width at half maximum (FWHM) kernels of 1, 3, and 5 mm, voxel-based analysis (VBA) was conducted. Statistical comparisons were performed using two-sample t-tests.
Results: In the MCI group, significantly higher susceptibility values were observed in multiple brain regions (T > 2.021, p < 0.001, uncorrected). The most pronounced difference was detected in the right lingual gyrus (peak T = 3.79). Additional significant peaks were identified in the right middle temporal gyrus, left occipital white matter, right cerebellar exterior region, and the left temporal pole. The spatial pattern of findings remained consistent across all applied smoothing levels (FWHM = 1, 3, and 5 mm).
Conclusion: QSM-based voxel-wise analysis demonstrated that paramagnetic shifts can already be localized at the MCI stage. These results support the role of QSM as a sensitive, non-invasive biomarker for the early detection of disturbances in microstructural integrity and iron homeostasis, providing complementary information to classical morphometric markers in the preclinical identification of Alzheimer’s disease.
Funding: The author is a recipient of the University Research Scholarship Programme (EKÖP).

University

Semmelweis University

Supervisor

Dr. Gyula Gyebnár

Publication of my abstract

I do not give consent to the publication of my abstract on the website of the congress.

phd.section.field

before finishing undergraduate studies (TDK, MD-PhD)

Kind

Szabad

Status

elfogadva

Accepted presentation method

poszter

Előadás fájl jóváhagyás

nem rendelkezett róla

Előadó

9645

Start

14:18

End

14:21