FDG-PET & Gait

PI: Prof Lynn Rochester

Funder: GE Healthcare

BAM project members: Dr Lisa Alcock, Dr Hilmar P Sigurdsson, Phil Brown

Background

The neural substrate of gait remains incompletely understood since current methodologies rely on challenging motor imagery paradigms that possibly underestimate important gait components.
In this GE funded proof-of-concept pilot study we set out to develop a novel paradigm capable of capturing the neural activation related to real walking relative to standing.
A graphic of a brain where the right half has been replaced by an image of a stationary person and a person walking
A graphic of half a brain being looked at by a magnifying glass. The other half of the brain has been replaced by a group of people walking. The image indicates how we are studying how the brain controls walking
A graphic of an MRI scanner, a stationary person and a person walking

Methods

We used a hybrid PET/MR system and measured glucose metabolism, using bolus iv injection of [18F]-2-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose, following a walking task and compared to a static postural control task in the same group of participants. All tasks and imaging acquisition were completed in the same study session.
A graphic of a group of people 
Fifteen healthy older adults took part in this study.

Results

A graphic of a research study or publication 
Our findings are currently being prepared for publication so watch this space for further updates.