Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 19, 2026
12:23
Dynamic Visual Tests to Identify and Quantify Visual Damage and Repair Following Demyelination in Optic Neuritis Patients
Published on: April 14, 2014
14.7K
The multiple sclerosis visual pathway cohort: understanding neurodegeneration in MS
Elena H Martínez-Lapiscina, Elena Fraga-Pumar, Iñigo Gabilondo
1Center of Neuroimmunology, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS) - Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, Casanova 145, Planta 3A, 08036 Barcelona, Spain. pvilloslada@clinic.ub.es.
BMC Research Notes
|December 17, 2014
Summary
The MS-VisualPath Cohort studies neurodegeneration in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) using advanced imaging of the visual pathway. This research aims to find new biomarkers for monitoring MS progression and improving patient prognosis.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Ophthalmology
- Immunology
Background:
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an immune-mediated CNS disease characterized by inflammation and neurodegeneration.
- Neurodegeneration significantly impacts MS prognosis and is a leading cause of disability in middle-aged adults.
- The visual pathway is a key area for studying MS neurodegeneration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the neurodegenerative component of MS by analyzing the visual pathway.
- To establish the MS-VisualPath Cohort for studying middle-aged MS patients in Barcelona.
- To identify novel clinical and imaging biomarkers for monitoring MS progression.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive neurological and ophthalmological examinations.
- Advanced imaging techniques including Optical Coherence Tomography, Wide-Field Fundus Imaging, and Magnetic Resonance Imaging.
- Neurophysiological assessment using multifocal Visual Evoked Potentials and clinical evaluations of disability, disease activity, and quality of life.
Main Results:
- The MS-VisualPath Cohort was established in 2010, focusing on early-phase MS patients.
- Detailed data collection includes clinical assessments, visual function, psychological status, and quality of life.
- Integrated imaging and neurophysiological data from the visual pathway are being collected.
Conclusions:
- Analyzing the visual pathway with advanced tools offers new insights into MS neurodegeneration.
- This approach will yield novel biomarkers for tracking disease progression.
- The findings aim to improve patient monitoring and prognosis in Multiple Sclerosis.
Related Concept Videos
01:19Multiple Sclerosis l: Introduction
4
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS) that affects the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves. It is an inflammatory demyelinating disorder and a leading cause of neurological disability in young adults.EpidemiologyMS commonly begins between 20 and 40 years of age and is twice as common in women. Its exact cause remains unclear, but genetic susceptibility contributes, with higher risk in first-degree relatives and identical twins. A greater...
4
01:22Photoreceptors and Visual Pathways
11.3K
At the molecular level, visual signals trigger transformations in photopigment molecules, resulting in changes in the photoreceptor cell's membrane potential. The photon's energy level is denoted by its wavelength, with each specific wavelength of visible light associated with a distinct color. The spectral range of visible light, classified as electromagnetic radiation, spans from 380 to 720 nm. Electromagnetic radiation wavelengths exceeding 720 nm fall under the infrared category,...
11.3K
01:23Alzheimer Disease ll: Pathophysiology
2
Alzheimer disease involves structural changes in the brain that begin long before symptoms appear. The most distinctive features are extracellular neuritic plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles.Neuritic plaques form in the cerebral cortex and around blood vessels. These plaques contain a dense core of beta-amyloid (Aβ)—a toxic protein fragment that clumps outside neurons. The core is surrounded by damaged neuronal extensions, as well as reactive astrocytes and...
2
01:26Alzheimer's Disease: Overview
2.0K
Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a continually advancing neurodegenerative disorder, distinguished by escalating memory loss, cognitive dysfunction, and dementia. The disease unfolds in three stages: preclinical, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and dementia. Its onset is insidious, and the progression gradual, with the cause not well explained by other disorders.
The clinical diagnosis of AD hinges on the presence of memory and other cognitive impairments. Biomarkers, such as changes in Aβ...
The clinical diagnosis of AD hinges on the presence of memory and other cognitive impairments. Biomarkers, such as changes in Aβ...
2.0K
01:24Parkinson Disease ll: Pathophysiology
6
Parkinson disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder primarily affecting movement, with additional non-motor features. Its pathophysiology involves complex interactions among genetic susceptibility, environmental exposures, and cellular dysfunction, including dopaminergic neuron loss, protein aggregation, and mitochondrial impairment.Selective NeurodegenerationA key feature is the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta, leading to reduced...
6
01:14Spinal Cord Injury ll: Pathophysiology
7
Spinal cord injury progresses through two interconnected phases: primary injury and secondary injury.Primary InjuryPrimary injury happens at the moment of trauma and involves immediate mechanical damage to the spinal cord.Compression happens when broken vertebrae, herniated discs, or accumulating blood (such as a hematoma) press directly against the spinal cord, distorting its normal shape and function. In cases of contusion, the cord is bruised by a blunt force (like penetrating injuries or...
7