White matter

Random Walk Imaging’s Software Protocol Enables Detection of White Matter Damage in MS Patients’ Brain Tissue that Appears Healthy with Conventional Medical Imaging Methods

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, June 11, 2020
Software, Radiology, Biotechnology, Health, Medical devices, Data management, Technology, Mobile, Wireless, Organ systems, Nervous system, Neuroscience, Myelin, White matter, Multiple sclerosis, Pathology of multiple sclerosis, Lesional demyelinations of the central nervous system

The data from this study provide convincing evidence that microscopic mapping substantially advances the assessment of cerebral white matter degeneration in MS.

Key Points: 
  • The data from this study provide convincing evidence that microscopic mapping substantially advances the assessment of cerebral white matter degeneration in MS.
  • Using the analysis tool from RWI, we were able to evaluate the damage to the white matter with remarkable detail, by separately analyzing tissue shape and orientation.
  • Multiple sclerosis attacks the nerve myelin and fibers of the central nervous system, leading to diffuse damage of the brain network.
  • Apart from the visually detected lesions on the MRI scan, MS also affects the normal-appearing white matter.

MRI Reveals Brain Damage in Obese Teens

Retrieved on: 
Monday, November 25, 2019
Magnetic resonance imaging, Branches of biology, Neuroimaging, Neuroscience, Organ systems, Peptide hormones, Leptin, Obesity, Diffusion MRI, White matter, Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain, Pathology of multiple sclerosis

While obesity is primarily associated with weight gain, recent evidence suggests that the disease triggers inflammation in the nervous system that could damage important regions of the brain.

Key Points: 
  • While obesity is primarily associated with weight gain, recent evidence suggests that the disease triggers inflammation in the nervous system that could damage important regions of the brain.
  • Developments in MRI like diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), a technique that tracks the diffusion of water along the brain's signal-carrying white matter tracts, have enabled researchers to study this damage directly.
  • In some obese people, the brain does not respond to leptin, causing them to keep eating despite adequate or excessive fat stores.
  • "In the future, we would like to repeat brain MRI in these adolescents after multi-professional treatment for weight loss to assess if the brain changes are reversible or not," she added.

Youth Football Changes Nerve Fibers in Brain

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, November 29, 2018
Neuroscience, Brain, Nervous system, Neuroanatomy, Corpus callosum, Nerve tract, White matter, Axon, Commissural fiber

There is rising concern that youth football players who experience these collisions in practices and games may be vulnerable to their effects.

Key Points: 
  • There is rising concern that youth football players who experience these collisions in practices and games may be vulnerable to their effects.
  • Dr. Kim and colleagues studied the results of these collisions on youth football players using a novel MRI method that looks at the strain evident on white matter tractsthe bundles of nerve fibers that carry information between different areas of the brain.
  • Twenty-six male youth football players, average age 12, underwent MRI studies before and approximately three months after the season was over.
  • The MRI results showed that the football players developed changes in the corpus callosum, a critically important band of nerve fibers that connects the two halves of the brain.

Researchers Use MRI to Predict Alzheimer's Disease

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, November 20, 2018
Neuroimaging, Neuroscience, Nervous system, Medicine, Magnetic resonance imaging, Cognitive disorders, Learning disabilities, Psychiatric diagnosis, Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative, Diffusion MRI, White matter, Alzheimer's disease

MRI exams of the brain using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) are a promising option for analysis of dementia risk.

Key Points: 
  • MRI exams of the brain using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) are a promising option for analysis of dementia risk.
  • They performed brain DTI exams on 61 people drawn from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative, a major, multisite study focusing on the progression of the disease.
  • Perhaps most importantly, MRI measures of white matter integrity could speed interventions that slow the course of the disease or even delay its onset.
  • The Society is based in Oak Brook, Ill. ( RSNA.org )
    For patient-friendly information on brain MRI, visit RadiologyInfo.org .

Soccer Heading Worse for Women's Brains than for Men's

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, July 31, 2018
Physics, Magnetic resonance imaging, Nationality, Neuroimaging, Science and technology in the United States, Diffusion MRI, Imaging, Tensors, White matter, Albert Einstein

In the study, Dr. Lipton and his colleagues performed diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), a form of MRI, on 49 male and 49 female amateur soccer players enrolled in the Einstein Soccer Study .

Key Points: 
  • In the study, Dr. Lipton and his colleagues performed diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), a form of MRI, on 49 male and 49 female amateur soccer players enrolled in the Einstein Soccer Study .
  • Assessment of FA in players' brains showed that the volume of damaged white matter in women soccer players was five times greater than for male players.
  • He previously found that frequent soccer ball heading is a common and under-recognized cause of concussion symptoms and that worse cognitive function in soccer players stems mainly from frequent ball heading rather than from unintentional head impacts due to collisions.
  • The paper is titled, "MRI-defined White Matter Microstructural Alteration Associated with Soccer Heading Is More Extensive in Women than Men."