[7 Tesla MRI for visualisation of small cerebral vessels]

Due to its higher resolution, MRI in which a magnet with a field strength of 7 Tesla (7T MRI) is used, is able to image smaller abnormalities. 7T MRI is a promising tool for research into the causes of cerebral small vessel disease. Originally this technique was aimed at imaging the small perforating brain vessels and in particular at the micro-thrombi present there. Although 7T MRI has not proved effective in showing thrombi in small blood vessels, it has proved itself to be effective on other fronts. Functional measurements of the small brain vessels can be reliably determined and abnormalities of the vessel wall can be imaged. However, the most promising development is the possibility of diagnosing so-called micro-infarctions of the cortex. These extremely small infarctions are an expression of ischaemic damage in degenerating small brain vessels, which for this reason are an important marker of brain ageing.