Researchers say a new MRI technique that can detect biochemical changes in the brain may lead to faster diagnosis and treatment for people with multiple sclerosis.
, affects nearly 3 million people worldwide. There is no cure, and it can cause fatigue, pain and impaired coordination. Physical therapy and medications can slow its progression.
Currently, MS can be detected in lesions in the brain’s white matter on standard MRIs. These lesions are linked to the loss of a protective coating around nerve fibers known as . This is tissue damage visible to the naked eye but finding the damage when it is still microscropic or at a biochemical stage would be better.metabolismThey used this to compare biochemical changes in the brains of 65 people with MS with those of 20 healthy individuals. They employed an MRI scanner with a powerful 7-Tesla magnet.derivative called N-acetylaspartate in patients with MS. Lower levels of NAA have been linked to impaired integrity of neurons in the brain.
People with MS also showed elevated levels of myo-inositol , a compound involved in cell signaling. Higher levels can indicate substantial inflammatory disease activity. Researchers said the results show a potential role for the new MRI technique in visualizing MS pathology beyond“Some neurochemical changes, particularly those associated with neuroinflammation, occur early in the course of the disease and may not only be correlated with disability, but also be predictive of further progression such as the formation of multiple sclerosis lesions,” said study lead author Eva Heckova, also from the High Field MR Centre.
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