Characterization of neurite and soma organization in the brain and spinal cord with diffusion MRI

The central nervous system (CNS), comprising both the brain and spinal cord, is a complex network of white and gray matter responsible for sensory, motor, and cognitive functions. Advanced diffusion MRI (dMRI) techniques offer a promising mechanism to non-invasively characterize CNS architecture, however, most studies focus on the brain or spinal cord in isolation. Here, we implemented a clinically feasible dMRI protocol on a 3T scanner to simultaneously characterize neurite and soma microstructure of both the brain and spinal cord. The protocol enabled the use of Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI), Standard Model Imaging (SMI), and Soma and Neurite Density Imaging (SANDI), representing the first time SMI and SANDI have been evaluated in the cord, and in the cord and brain simultaneously. Our results demonstrate high image quality even at high diffusion weightings, reproducibility of SMI- and SANDI-derived metrics similar to those of DTI with few exceptions, and biologically feasible contrasts between and within white and gray matter regions. Reproducibility and contrasts were decreased in the cord compared with that of the brain, revealing challenges due to partial volume effects and image preprocessing. This study establishes a harmonized approach for brain and cord microstructural imaging, and the opportunity to study CNS pathologies and biomarkers of structural integrity across the neuroaxis.