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Updated: May 28, 2025
Diffusion Tensor Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Analysis of Neurodegenerative Diseases
Published on: July 28, 2013
White matter alterations in episodic migraine without aura patients assessed with diffusion MRI: effect of free water
Irene Guadilla1,2,3, Ana R Fouto4, Amparo Ruiz-Tagle4
1Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain. irene.guadilla@uva.es.
Objective:
To assess the effect of modeling free water (FW) on the identification of white matter (WM) microstructure alterations using diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging (dMRI) in episodic migraine without aura patients compared with healthy controls.
Background:
Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) studies examining WM in migraine patients previously overlooked the potential influence of FW partial volume effects. Correcting FW effects could offer a clearer understanding of WM changes in migraine. This study is the first to incorporate FW effects when evaluating alterations in WM tracts in migraine patients, offering a comparison to standard DTI analysis.
Methods:
A group of 14 patients with low-frequency episodic menstrual-related migraine without aura and 15 healthy controls matched for the phase of the menstrual cycle were recruited and underwent dMRI acquisitions. FW partial volume fraction was estimated, the diffusion signal corrected and the diffusion parameters calculated from both FW-corrected and uncorrected signals. Tract-Based Spatial Statistics (TBSS) and WM skeleton regions of interest (ROI) analyses were used to compare between groups.
Results:
Comparisons between control subjects and migraine patients with TBSS and ROI analyses revealed significantly lower axial diffusivity (AD), both with and without FW correction, as well as altered FW values in migraine patients in some WM tracts. TBSS detected MD changes only after FW correction.
Conclusions:
These findings suggest WM alterations in these migraine patients in comparison with control subjects, in accordance with other migraine studies. Differences in the diffusion parameters might point to inflammatory processes in migraine related to cellular swelling.
Insights
Modeling free water (FW) effects in diffusion MRI reveals white matter (WM) alterations in episodic migraine patients. Correcting for FW improves the detection of microstructural changes, suggesting inflammation may underlie migraine pathology.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Neuroscience
- Medical Physics
Background:
- Previous diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) studies in migraine patients may have overlooked free water (FW) partial volume effects.
- Accounting for FW effects can provide a more accurate understanding of white matter (WM) changes in migraine.
- This study is the first to analyze WM tracts in migraine patients with FW effects, comparing it to standard DTI analysis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of modeling free water (FW) on identifying white matter (WM) microstructure alterations using diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging (dMRI).
- To compare dMRI findings in episodic migraine without aura patients against healthy controls, assessing the role of FW correction.
Main Methods:
- Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging (dMRI) was performed on 14 episodic migraine patients and 15 healthy controls.
- Free water (FW) partial volume fraction was estimated, and diffusion signals were corrected for FW effects.
- Tract-Based Spatial Statistics (TBSS) and region of interest (ROI) analyses were used to compare FW-corrected and uncorrected diffusion parameters between groups.
Main Results:
- Migraine patients exhibited significantly lower axial diffusivity (AD) in several WM tracts compared to controls, irrespective of FW correction.
- Altered FW values were observed in specific WM tracts of migraine patients.
- Mean diffusivity (MD) changes in WM were detected by TBSS only after FW correction.
Conclusions:
- The study confirms white matter (WM) alterations in episodic migraine patients compared to controls.
- Observed differences in diffusion parameters may indicate inflammatory processes and cellular swelling associated with migraine.
- FW correction enhances the sensitivity of dMRI in detecting WM microstructural changes in migraine.
