Grey matter pathology in clinically early multiple sclerosis: evidence from magnetic resonance imaging

Area of Science:

• Neuroimaging
• Neurology
• Pathology

Background:

• Multiple sclerosis (MS) pathology extends beyond visible white matter (WM) lesions.
• Non-lesional WM and grey matter (GM) are also affected.
• GM damage is increasingly recognized as a key factor in MS progression and long-term outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the nature, extent, and evolution of GM pathology in early relapse-onset MS.
• To focus on GM changes detectable by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on early MS pathology.
• Analysis of MRI findings related to GM changes in MS.
• Focus on relapse-onset MS.

Main Results:

• GM damage is present from the earliest clinical stages of MS.
• GM pathology contributes significantly to the overall disease burden in MS.
• MRI techniques reveal the extent and evolution of early GM changes.

Conclusions:

• GM damage is a critical determinant of MS progression and patient outcomes.
• Understanding early GM pathology is crucial for managing MS.
• MRI is a key tool for assessing early GM changes in multiple sclerosis.