Assessment of brain core temperature using MR DWI-thermometry in Alzheimer disease patients compared to healthy subjects.

Abstract

To assess the brain core temperature of Alzheimer disease (AD) patients in comparison with healthy volunteers using diffusion-weighted thermometry. Fourteen AD patients (3 men, 11 women; age range 60-81years, mean age 73.8±6.1years) and 14 healthy volunteers, age and sex-matched (mean age 70.1±6.9years; range 62-84years; 5 men, 9 women) underwent MR examination between February 2014 and March 2016. MR imaging studies were performed with a 1.5-T MR scanner. Brain core temperature (T: °C) was calculated using the following equation from the diffusion coefficient (D) in the lateral ventricular (LV) cerebrospinal fluid: T=2256.74/ln (4.39221/D)-273.15 using a standard DWI single-shot echo-planar pulse sequence (b value 1000s/mm2). Statistical analysis was performed using a nonparametric Wilcoxon rank-sum test to compare the patient and control groups regarding LV temperatures. There was no significant difference (P=0.1937) in LV temperature between patients (mean 37.9±1.1°C, range 35.8-39.2°C) and control group (38.7±1.4°C, range 36.9-42.7°C). Brain core temperature in AD patients showed no significant alterations compared to healthy volunteers.