Diagnostic potential of near-infrared spectroscopy in mild cognitive impairment and neurodegenerative disorders: Implications for resource-limited settings

IF 11.1 1区医学 Q1 CLINICAL NEUROLOGY

Alzheimer's & Dementia Pub Date : 2025-10-08 DOI:10.1002/alz.70769

George Nkrumah Osei, Ansumana Bockarie, Albert Akpalu, Peter Osei-Wusu Adueming, Maxwell Hubert Antwi, Foster Appiah, Linus Kpelle, David Mawutor Donkor, David Larbi Simpong

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Abstract

BACKGROUND

Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is emerging as a promising tool for early detection of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and neurodegenerative diseases, especially where advanced imaging is limited.

METHODOLOGY

This systematic review investigates NIRS's diagnostic capabilities. Adhering to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, we conducted a comprehensive review of studies using NIRS for cognitive assessment in MCI and neurodegenerative conditions.

RESULTS/DISCUSSION

NIRS effectively assesses cognitive function, identifying reduced prefrontal connectivity in MCI and subjective cognitive decline (SCD). Interestingly, while SCD patients maintain stronger brain network integrity, NIRS reveals decreased oxyhemoglobin levels in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients’ dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Combining NIRS with graph analysis, cognitive tasks, and machine learning significantly boosts diagnostic accuracy. Moreover, NIRS can differentiate between neurodegenerative disorders and, with concurrent electroencephalography, offers enhanced understanding of brain connectivity issues in AD. Our findings emphasize NIRS's considerable potential to improve cognitive assessment and neurodegeneration diagnosis.

Highlights

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) individuals show disruptions in neurovascular coupling and functional connectivity, particularly in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex during near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) assessments.
Significant reductions in oxyhemoglobin (HbO₂) levels are observed in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex of amnestic MCI (aMCI) individuals compared to healthy controls.
Individuals with subjective cognitive decline (SCD) show lower HbO₂ levels than healthy individuals, while aMCI individuals show even more pronounced reductions.
The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex is identified as a critical area for Alzheimer's disease (AD) assessment using NIRS, correlating with cognitive performance.
Differences in Broca's area activation during language tasks help distinguish behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia from AD, revealing unique cognitive profiles through NIRS.

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近红外光谱在轻度认知障碍和神经退行性疾病中的诊断潜力：对资源有限的环境的影响

近红外光谱（NIRS）正在成为早期检测轻度认知障碍（MCI）和神经退行性疾病的一种有前途的工具，特别是在先进成像有限的情况下。

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来源期刊

Alzheimer's & Dementia 医学-临床神经学

CiteScore

14.50

自引率

5.00%

发文量

299

审稿时长

3 months

期刊介绍： Alzheimer's & Dementia is a peer-reviewed journal that aims to bridge knowledge gaps in dementia research by covering the entire spectrum, from basic science to clinical trials to social and behavioral investigations. It provides a platform for rapid communication of new findings and ideas, optimal translation of research into practical applications, increasing knowledge across diverse disciplines for early detection, diagnosis, and intervention, and identifying promising new research directions. In July 2008, Alzheimer's & Dementia was accepted for indexing by MEDLINE, recognizing its scientific merit and contribution to Alzheimer's research.