PAW23 Voxel-based analysis of magnetisation transfer ratio as a potential biomarker in prion diseases

MRC Prion-1 Trial enabled investigation of longitudinal MRI and cognitive assessments as potential biomarkers for future therapeutic trials in human prion diseases. The cross-sectional data provides opportunity to examine neuroanatomical differences in patients with inherited prion diseases (IPD) and controls. Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and voxel-based analysis of magnetisation transfer ratio (VBA-MTR) was performed on 17 symptomatic (IS) IPD patients, 6 asymptomatic (AS) mutation carriers and 13 controls (Co). An ANCOVA consisting of diagnostic grouping (Co, IS, AS) with age and total intracranial volume as covariates and a threshold of p