We are excited to share that our recent research on imaging biomarkers in multiple sclerosis (MS) has been published in Nature Scientific Reports. This collaborative project, led by Muhamed Barakovic and Cristina Granziera, investigates the potential of diffusion MRI and a new model called "soma and neurite density imaging (SANDI)" to non-invasively analyze cellularity in the cortex of individuals with MS.
Paper Key Findings:
- Overall Decrease in Cortical Cellularity: The study revealed a significant reduction in cortical SANDI form in people with MS (pwMS) compared to healthy controls, indicating global degenerative processes consistent with neuronal loss.
- Differences in MS Types: Progressive MS (PMS) showed higher SANDI fsoma in the outer cortical layer, suggesting increased innate inflammatory cells in these regions. Relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) exhibited increased SANDI fsoma in subpial lesions, aligning with existing pathological data.
- Correlation with sNfL: A significant correlation between SANDI fsoma and serum neurofilament light chain (sNfL), a biomarker of inflammatory axonal damage, indicating a link between SANDI fsoma and inflammatory processes in pwMS.
The data emphasizes the potential of SANDI in clinical settings and its use as a biomarker for monitoring changes in cellularity associated with neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation in MS patients. This research represents a significant advancement in understanding MS pathology and in improving diagnostic and treatment strategies.
Read full article here
