Believe it or not, when interpreted, this image can show the differences between an individual with Alzheimer’s disease and a healthy adult. The different colours in this image show us which brain regions are affected and even shows the specific orientation and direction of the affected tracts within the brain.

This image was created using a specific form of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), called diffusion MRI (dMRI), which measures the distribution of water in the brain. This technique allows us to determine the degeneration and structural integrity of specific neuron tracts in the brain, by seeing how the water has diffused through it.

Using techniques like this, Ms Lenore, as a part of Professor Lynette Tippett’s research team, hopes to identify patterns which may indicate early changes in individuals with Alzheimer’s disease. As it stands, more than 150 million people will be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease by 2050. Study’s like this, as a part of the Dementia Prevention Research Clinic here in New Zealand, look to identify early markers of onset and progression of Alzheimer’s disease, to aid in early intervention and better clinical outcomes for these individuals.