title: Blood-brain barrier impairment in dementia: current and future in vivo assessments.
abstract: Increasing evidence indicates that blood-brain barrier (BBB) impairment may play a role in the pathophysiology of cognitive decline and dementia. In vivo imaging studies are needed to quantify and localize the BBB defects during life, contemplating the circulatory properties. We reviewed the literature for imaging studies investigating BBB impairment in patients suffering from dementia. After selection, 11 imaging studies were included, of which 6 used contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), 2 used contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT), and 3 positron emission tomography (PET). Primarily the MRI studies hint at a subtle increasing permeability of the BBB, particularly in patients already exhibiting cerebrovascular pathology. More elaborate studies are required to provide convincing evidence on BBB impairment in patients with various stages of dementia with and without obvious cerebrovascular pathology. In the future, dynamic contrast enhanced MRI techniques and transport specific imaging using PET may further detail the research on the molecular nature of BBB defects.
authors.affiliation: School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Dr. Tanslaan 12, 6229 ET, Maastricht, The Netherlands; Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Alzheimer Center Limburg, Maastricht University Medical Center, Dr. Tanslaan 12, 6229 ET Maastricht, The Netherlands; Departments of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center, P. Debyelaan 25, 6229 HX Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Harm J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: van de Haar
authors.affiliation: School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Dr. Tanslaan 12, 6229 ET, Maastricht, The Netherlands; Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Alzheimer Center Limburg, Maastricht University Medical Center, Dr. Tanslaan 12, 6229 ET Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Saartje
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Burgmans
authors.affiliation: School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Dr. Tanslaan 12, 6229 ET, Maastricht, The Netherlands; Departments of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center, P. Debyelaan 25, 6229 HX Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Paul A M
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Hofman
authors.affiliation: School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Dr. Tanslaan 12, 6229 ET, Maastricht, The Netherlands; Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Alzheimer Center Limburg, Maastricht University Medical Center, Dr. Tanslaan 12, 6229 ET Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Frans R J
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Verhey
authors.affiliation: School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Dr. Tanslaan 12, 6229 ET, Maastricht, The Netherlands; Departments of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center, P. Debyelaan 25, 6229 HX Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jacobus F A
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Jansen
authors.affiliation: School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Dr. Tanslaan 12, 6229 ET, Maastricht, The Netherlands; Departments of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center, P. Debyelaan 25, 6229 HX Maastricht, The Netherlands; CARIM School for Cardiovascular Disease, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 50, 6229 ER Maastricht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: w.backes@mumc.nl.
authors.forename: Walter H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Backes
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003704:Dementia / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans
keywords: Alzheimer's disease; Blood–brain barrier; CT; Contrast-enhanced; DCE-MRI; Dementia; PET; Vascular dementia