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Diffusion Tensor Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Analysis of Neurodegenerative Diseases
Published on: July 28, 2013
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Longitudinal tracking of axonal loss using diffusion magnetic resonance imaging in multiple sclerosis
Frederique M Boonstra1, Meaghan Clough1, Myrte Strik2
1Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Level 6, 99 Commercial Rd, Prahran 3005, Australia.
Brain Communications
|April 15, 2022
Summary
New diffusion MRI measures show significantly more sensitive tracking of axonal loss in multiple sclerosis (MS) than current methods. These fibre-specific measures, derived from standard MRI scans, can detect degeneration faster, aiding clinical monitoring of MS progression.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Neurology
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Axonal loss in the central nervous system (CNS) is a primary cause of progressive neurological disability in multiple sclerosis (MS).
- Current clinical methods lack established sensitivity for tracking longitudinal axonal loss in MS.
- Diffusion MRI offers potential for non-invasive assessment of white matter integrity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the sensitivity of longitudinal diffusion MRI-derived fibre-specific measures for detecting axonal loss in multiple sclerosis (MS).
- To compare the sensitivity of these novel fibre measures against established markers of neuro-axonal degeneration.
- To assess the utility of fibre-specific measures across different stages of MS.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of diffusion MRI data from 59 individuals with MS (clinically isolated syndrome, early/late relapsing-remitting MS).
- Fibre-specific measures derived from diffusion MRI using multi-tissue constrained spherical deconvolution.
- Comparison with brain parenchymal fraction (BPF) from 3D MRI and retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness from optical coherence tomography (OCT).
Main Results:
- Significant annual fibre-specific neuro-axonal degeneration (-3.49 ± 3.32%, P < 0.001) was observed, approximately 7 times greater than BPF change (-0.53 ± 0.95%, P < 0.001) and 4 times greater than RNFL thinning (-0.75 ± 2.50%, P = 0.036).
- Only fibre-specific measures demonstrated significant differences in annual degeneration rates between MS disease stages (P = 0.029).
- Reduced BPF, RNFL thickness, and fibre-specific measures showed moderate correlations with higher Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores.
Conclusions:
- Fibre-specific measures derived from standard radiological diffusion MRI are substantially more sensitive to longitudinal axonal loss in MS than BPF and RNFL thickness.
- These measures can be obtained from routine clinical MRI data, offering a promising tool for monitoring MS progression.
- The enhanced sensitivity of fibre-specific measures supports their potential clinical utility in tracking neurodegeneration across different MS phenotypes.
