Statistical Parametric Mapping and Voxel-Based Specific Regional Analysis System for Alzheimer's Disease (VSRAD): Principles and Clinical Applications.

Background

The voxel-based specific regional analysis system for Alzheimer's disease (VSRAD) allows quantitative evaluation of the degree of an individual's brain atrophy through statistical comparison of brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of their brain to a normative database of healthy Japanese individuals. Currently, the VSRAD is used in routine clinical practice in the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). Recent studies using VSRAD have explored its utility in the assessment of brain atrophy associated with various conditions, including diabetes, oral health status, and olfactory dysfunction. This review summarizes the principles of the VSRAD and its foundational method, voxel-based morphometry (VBM), and their clinical and research applications.

Methods

This narrative review was conducted by performing a literature search of PubMed to identify articles regarding VBM and the VSRAD that were published between 2005 and 2025.

Results

VSRAD yields four indices for quantifying the severity and extent of gray matter atrophy, especially in the medial temporal lobe. Studies have demonstrated its high diagnostic accuracy in distinguishing among AD, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and DLB. Furthermore, it is correlated with neuropsychological test scores and has been applied to evaluate brain changes associated with diabetes, olfactory dysfunction, and physical inactivity. Motion-corrected MR images, which utilize AI techniques, have also been validated using VSRAD-derived metrics.

Conclusions

Quantifying brain atrophy using the VSRAD allows objective evaluation and facilitates the investigation of its association with various diseases. Specifically, VSRAD can be considered a useful adjunctive tool for diagnosing AD and DLB.