MRI for early diagnosis

Summary

Some people wait over 12 months to receive a diagnosis of MND. Patterns of activity inside the brain and spinal cord may hold the key to identifying disease earlier. Dr. Gorrie will use an imaging technique called magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to look inside the brains and spinal cords of people affected by MND. Deploying a powerful version of MRI called 7T imaging, he will explore several factors that are suggested to be potential biomarkers – biological signs that can be used to identify disease – for MND. These include iron deposits in the motor cortex, motor neuron structure and health, and metabolic patterns.

Why this research is important

We still lack reliable early biomarkers for MND. If we intervene early in disease, before many motor neurons have become damaged, we might be able to improve the effectiveness of treatments. MRI information could also help divide people into subgroups depending on what is happening in their brain and spinal cords, enabling more personalized treatments. 

Find out more about this project here.