Abstract #0976

High-resolution diffusion tensor imaging shows cortical microstructure changes in multiple sclerosis across the lifespan

J Alejandro Acosta-Franco¹, Carly Weber¹, Diana Valdés Cabrera^1,2, Penny Smyth³, Gregg Blevins³, Colin Wilbur⁴, Graham Little⁵, and Christian Beaulieu^1,6

¹Biomedical Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada, ²Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada, ³Neurology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada, ⁴Pediatric Neurology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada, ⁵Computer Science, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada, ⁶Radiology and Diagnostic Imaging, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada

Synopsis

Keywords: Gray Matter, Multiple Sclerosis

Motivation: Patterns of cortical microstructural damage in multiple sclerosis (MS) can be examined in vivo with high-resolution diffusion tensor imaging (DTI).

Goal(s): To assess cortical diffusion changes in MS across the lifespan.

Approach: High-resolution DTI from controls (5-74 years) and MS participants (13-72 years) were segmented using an only-DTI-based method. Thickness, standard DTI metrics and radiality were evaluated in the entire cortex in MS against normative development/aging.

Results: Cortical changes were observed in ~1/3 of MS participants versus controls over the entire lifespan, such as thinning, higher mean (MD), axial (AD) and radial (RD) diffusivities, and lower radiality.

Impact: This study highlights microstructural abnormalities in the cortex of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients throughout the lifespan. These findings will help to understand in vivo cortical pathology in MS that might precede atrophy and that could be linked with disease progression/phenotypes.

How to access this content:

For one year after publication, abstracts and videos are only open to registrants of this annual meeting. Registrants should use their existing login information. Non-registrant access can be purchased via the ISMRM E-Library.

After one year, current ISMRM & ISMRT members get free access to both the abstracts and videos. Non-members and non-registrants must purchase access via the ISMRM E-Library.

After two years, the meeting proceedings (abstracts) are opened to the public and require no login information. Videos remain behind password for access by members, registrants and E-Library customers.

Click here for more information on becoming a member.