From micro- to macro-structures in multiple sclerosis: what is the added value of diffusion imaging

Area of Science:

• Neuroimaging
• Neurology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Diffusion imaging is sensitive to central nervous system microstructural changes.
• Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a key research area for diffusion imaging due to its complex pathology.
• MS involves competing processes like inflammation, demyelination, and axonal loss, challenging imaging specificity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the application of diffusion imaging in understanding brain structure at multiple scales.
• To discuss how pathological substrates in diseases like MS affect brain properties.
• To highlight the potential of diffusion imaging for clinical applications in neurology.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on diffusion imaging in neurological diseases.
• Analysis of how micro-, meso-, and macro-scale brain properties are affected by pathology.
• Integration of findings across different scales for a comprehensive understanding.

Main Results:

• Diffusion imaging shows promise for detecting microstructural changes in the CNS.
• MS serves as a model disease to demonstrate diffusion imaging's clinical potential.
• Pathological processes in MS can be investigated using diffusion imaging's multi-scale approach.

Conclusions:

• Larger studies are required to validate current diffusion imaging findings for clinical use.
• Integrating micro-, meso-, and macroscopic data is crucial for understanding complex pathologies.
• Diffusion imaging holds significant potential for advancing clinical neurology, particularly in neurodegenerative diseases.