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Functional MRI

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Neurodegeneration in Multiple Sclerosis

Part of the book series: Topics in Neuroscience ((TOPNEURO))

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Abstract

Over the past decade, modern structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques have been extensively used for the study of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) [1] with the ultimate goal of increasing our understanding of the mechanisms responsible for the accumulation of irreversible disability. The application of these techniques has provided important insights into the pathobiology of MS. First, it has been demonstrated that MS-related damage is not restricted to T2-visible lesions, but also involves, diffusely, the normal-appearing white matter (NAWM) and gray matter (GM) [1]. Secondly, it has been shown that the neurodegenerative component of the disease is not a late phenomenon and that it is not completely driven by inflammatory demyelination [2]. Finally, the contribution of axon damage to the clinical manifestations of the disease and to its clinical worsening over time has been confirmed [3, 4]. Despite these improvements, the correlation between the results of MRI and clinical findings remains suboptimal. This might be explained, at least partially, by the variable effectiveness of reparative and recovery mechanisms following MS-related tissue damage.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Neuroimaging Research Unit Department of Neurology, Scientific Istitute and University Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy

    M. A. Rocca & M. Filippi

Authors
  1. M. A. Rocca
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  2. M. Filippi
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Neuroimaging Research Unit Department of Neurology, Scientific Institute and University Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy

    Massimo Filippi  & Marco Rovaris  & 

  2. Department of Neurology, Scientific Institute and University Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy

    Giancarlo Comi

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Rocca, M.A., Filippi, M. (2007). Functional MRI. In: Filippi, M., Rovaris, M., Comi, G. (eds) Neurodegeneration in Multiple Sclerosis. Topics in Neuroscience. Springer, Milano. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-0391-0_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-0391-0_9

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Milano

  • Print ISBN: 978-88-470-0390-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-88-470-0391-0

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