Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases have been identified as the most common neurodegenerative diseases in the U.S (NIH, 2019). Since such neurodegenerative diseases are thus far, incurable, it is crucial to understand possible underlying causes, treatments, or prevention techniques. In doing so, researchers have been able to utilize neuroimaging techniques like functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in measuring the cognitive and social processes reflected in an affected individual’s neural system. Thus, allowing for further advancements in understanding and treating such diseases as neuroimaging techniques have been able to provide more personalized treatment plans in prescribing medications or forms of therapies. This has been illustrated through several studies interested in how the human brain of an affected individual may change throughout their life span.
Caterina Gratton et al. were able to analyze the relationship between neuroimaging techniques and how the human brain systemically functions under neurodegenerative diseases through fMRI scans. This study examined how the cortical FC measures correlated to specific behaviors depending on the neural disease of interest in patients 21 years and older. Gratton et al. proposed an fMRI scan will allow for a more precise identification of the behaviors and neural activity correlated to the individual’s disease, which would then facilitate optimal treatment to be identified. Since the data collected from fMRI scans are not representative solely of the activation levels in particular regions of the brain but is a compilation of the “...complex experiential processes being implemented in different neural systems” (Paulus, 2008), fMRI scans are expected to account for a more holistic diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases. However, with such complex information being given, it is crucial for researchers to be able to isolate only the relevant factors contributing to the diseases. Gratton et al. proposed individualized applications of fMRI scans would be able to identify the relevant activity as this would be noted as being stable across different trait-dependent contexts. Activity that is not constantly expressed in the scans would be associated with being unstable, such as the individual’s mood.
Through a series of similar studies regarding neuroimaging for neurological diseases, Gratton and her team were able to conclude precise fMRI scans detect high levels of stable activity and regional sensitivity because of individuals’ differences (Gratton, 2019). Therefore, the neural system differences are not significantly related to the unstable activity or phenotypic variables in the tasks individuals performed. Defining Individual-Specific Functional Neuroanatomy for Precision Psychiatry illustrates how fMRI scans are beneficial in measuring the traits indicative of both neurodegenerative and neurological diseases such that diagnosis and treatments are better catered to the individual. Gratton also concludes fMRI scans to be beneficial for severely depressed individuals; with the data collected one may conclude fMRI scans facilitate more unique treatment depending on the individual case rather than a more general form of treatment for such diseases.
Similar to Gratton et al.’s results, Kathrin Holzschneider concluded fMRI scans being useful in monitoring and treating different anxiety disorders such as social anxiety, PTSD, and OCD, “...neuroimaging techniques offer the opportunity to monitor structural and functional neuronal changes as a result of psychotherapy that occur along with changes in patients’ perception and behavior...refine and optimize psychotherapeutic strategies” (Holzschneider, 2011). In gathering fMRI data, participants were exposed to stimuli that would induce their anxiety and revealed an increased level of activity in the fear network of the brain. Under most anxiety disorders, the amygdala is expected to be hyperactive and the frontal brain region is expected to be less active in regulation (Holzschneider, 2011). With the data collected from fMRI scans, researchers were able to provide treatment catered to the type of anxiety disorder. Those exhibiting neural patterns of social anxiety were exposed to mindfulness-based stress reduction therapy (MBSR) and prescribed specific serotonin reuptake inhibitors. In doing so, researchers observed “...oxytocin attenuated the heightened amygdala activation in response to fearful face. Hence it appears to modulate the exaggerated amygdala activity…”(Holzschnieder, 2011). Similarly, those with anxiety-inducing phobias were treated with exposure therapy and determined the fear network of the brain to be more regulated than without the therapy. By doing this, researchers are able to better decide what the optimal treatment may be; whether prescriptions are needed based on the individual differences in neural activity of the affected individual.
This study illustrates fMRI scans being able to predict whether the affected individual responds to the form of treatment or intervention used across different anxiety disorders. Holzschneider references another study conducted by Bryan et al in which researchers “...demonstrated in PTSD patients that a smaller volume of the rostral anterior cingulate cortex predicted nonresponse to CBT. The authors assume that exposure-based CBT is...a process that requires anterior cingulate cortical structures. Thus, larger volumes of the anterior cingulate would lead to better control...better responding to CBT” (Holzschnieder, 2011). Through fMRI scans, researchers are able to identify pretreatment neural behaviors indicative of what the optimal treatment per case may be.
Neuroimaging techniques enable researchers and healthcare providers to closely analyze the neural system, identifying optimal treatment, and the individual’s treatment journey. Such techniques have demonstrated successful results in improving the affected individual’s brain activity whether it may be neurodegenerative, or anxiety and fear-based. In doing so, current treatment can advance to be catered specifically to the individual and create more effective options. This research brings rise to combining forms of treatment like cognitive behavioral therapy with certain medication for optimal results. Utilizing such techniques allows for a more thorough understanding of such neurological diseases and the possibility of preventing such diseases from worsening.
1. Gratton, C., Kraus, B. T., Greene, D. J., Gordon, E. M., Laumann, T. O., Nelson, S. M., Dosenbach, N., & Petersen, S. E. (2019). Defining Individual-Specific Functional Neuroanatomy for Precision Psychiatry. Biological psychiatry, 88(1), 28–39. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2019.10.026
3. Neurodegenerative Diseases. (2019). Retrieved 4 March 2021, from https://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/supported/health/neurodegenerative/index.cfm
4. Paulus M. P. (2008). The role of neuroimaging for the diagnosis and treatment of anxiety disorders. Depression and anxiety, 25(4), 348–356. https://doi.org/10.1002/da.20499
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