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Updated: Aug 5, 2026
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Diffusion Tensor Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Analysis of Neurodegenerative Diseases
Published on: July 28, 2013
Microstructural alterations in brain tissue of ME/CFS and long COVID using diffusion tensor imaging and diffusion
Tanoj Bahadur Singh1, Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik1, Leighton Barnden1
1National Center for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia.
Frontiers in Medicine
|August 1, 2026
Summary
This study reveals distinct brain microstructural differences between Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) and long COVID using MRI. These findings offer insights into the neuropathology underlying shared symptoms in these conditions.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Neurology
- Medical Research
Background:
- Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) and long COVID share debilitating symptoms like fatigue and cognitive impairment.
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) techniques like Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) and Diffusion Kurtosis Imaging (DKI) have individually studied brain changes in ME/CFS or long COVID.
- No prior study has directly compared brain microstructural differences between ME/CFS and long COVID using combined DTI and DKI.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate and compare brain tissue microstructural differences between individuals with ME/CFS and long COVID.
- To utilize advanced MRI techniques (DTI and DKI) to identify distinct neuropathological alterations.
- To provide insights into the neuropathological basis of shared symptoms in ME/CFS and long COVID.
Main Methods:
- Recruited participants: 37 ME/CFS, 19 long COVID, and 27 healthy controls.
- Acquired MRI data using a 3 Tesla (3T) Prisma scanner.
- Analyzed DTI and DKI metrics using specialized software (MRtrix, Designer) and statistical analysis (SPM12 in MATLAB), correlating findings with clinical measures.
Main Results:
- ME/CFS patients showed alterations in the cingulum, supplementary motor areas, and corpus callosum compared to controls.
- Long COVID patients exhibited alterations in the fusiform and precentral gyrus, and major white matter tracks.
- Direct comparison revealed significant microstructural differences in the left corona radiata between ME/CFS and long COVID groups (p=0.001).
Conclusions:
- Distinct brain tissue microstructural alterations are identified in ME/CFS and long COVID.
- The study provides crucial insights into the neuropathological underpinnings of overlapping symptoms in these conditions.
- This research highlights the potential of advanced MRI techniques in differentiating neurological impacts of ME/CFS and long COVID.
