The thesis describes the application of several different magnetic resonance (MR) techniques to study the effects of the progression of disease in a transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's. Using MR... Show moreThe thesis describes the application of several different magnetic resonance (MR) techniques to study the effects of the progression of disease in a transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's. Using MR imaging, the amyloid plaque deposition was visualized and the plaque load quantified in the same mice as they aged. Concurrently the transverse relaxation time (T2) was measured in affected brain regions and shown to decrease over time as plaque-load increased. To study the neurochemical profile in the mouse brain brain both one- (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) MR spectroscopic techniques were employed. 1D MRS is widely used in similar research, but has limited spectral resolution. To overcome this limitation, a 2D MRS technique was implemented and optimized for use in mouse brain. This technique, L-COSY, allowed the detection of several metabolites which were not visible using standard 1D MRS techniques. This technique was subsequently used to study the effects of Alzheimer's on the neurochemical profile. Observed changes were correlated with plaque deposition. Show less
