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Updated: Apr 21, 2026
Diffusion Tensor Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Analysis of Neurodegenerative Diseases
Published on: July 28, 2013
Non-Gaussian diffusion MRI of gray matter is associated with cognitive impairment in multiple sclerosis
M Bester1, J H Jensen2, J S Babb3
1Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Germany/ Department of Radiology, Langone Medical Center, NYU School of Medicine, NY, USA.
Background:
Non-Gaussian diffusion imaging by using diffusional kurtosis imaging (DKI) allows assessment of isotropic tissue as of gray matter (GM), an important limitation of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI).
Objective:
In this study, we describe DKI and DTI metrics of GM in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and their association with cognitive deficits.
Methods:
Thirty-four patients with relapsing-remitting MS and 17 controls underwent MRI on a 3T scanner including a sequence for DKI with 30 diffusion directions and 3b values for each direction. Mean kurtosis (MK), mean diffusivity and fractional anisotropy (FA) of cortical and subcortical GM were measured using histogram analysis. Spearman rank correlations were used to characterize associations among imaging measures and clinical/neuropsychological scores.
Results:
In cortical GM, a significant decrease of MK (0.68 vs. 0.73; p < 0.001) and increase of FA (0.16 vs. 0.13; p < 0.001) was found in patients compared to controls. Decreased cortical MK was correlated with poor performance on the Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System test (r = 0.66, p = 0.01).
Conclusion:
Mean kurtosis is sensitive to abnormality in GM of MS patients and can provide information that is complementary to that of conventional DTI-derived metrics. The association between MK and cognitive deficits suggests that DKI might serve as a clinically relevant biomarker for cortical injury.
Insights
Diffusional kurtosis imaging (DKI) reveals abnormalities in gray matter of multiple sclerosis patients, offering insights beyond traditional diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Mean kurtosis (MK) changes correlate with cognitive deficits, suggesting DKI as a potential biomarker for brain injury.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Biomarkers
- Neurology
Background:
- Diffusional kurtosis imaging (DKI) enables gray matter (GM) assessment, overcoming limitations of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI).
- DKI provides insights into non-Gaussian diffusion, crucial for understanding complex tissue microstructures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate DKI and DTI metrics in the gray matter of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients.
- To investigate the association between these imaging metrics and cognitive impairments in MS.
Main Methods:
- MRI scans using a 3T scanner with DKI sequences were performed on 34 MS patients and 17 controls.
- Mean kurtosis (MK), mean diffusivity, and fractional anisotropy (FA) of cortical and subcortical GM were quantified using histogram analysis.
- Spearman rank correlations assessed relationships between imaging measures and clinical/neuropsychological scores.
Main Results:
- MS patients showed significantly decreased cortical MK and increased FA compared to controls.
- Reduced cortical MK in patients correlated with poorer performance on executive function tests.
- These findings highlight alterations in GM microstructure in MS.
Conclusions:
- Mean kurtosis (MK) is sensitive to gray matter abnormalities in MS patients.
- DKI-derived MK offers complementary information to DTI metrics.
- The correlation between MK and cognitive deficits suggests DKI's potential as a biomarker for cortical injury in MS.
