New four-dimensional brain map could help detect multiple sclerosis earlier

A new study by researchers at the National Institute of Health (NIH) revealed their new four-dimensional brain map. This new way of brain mapping reveals how multiple sclerosis (MS) develops and how brain tissue may repair itself

By creating this brain map, doctors could help detect multiple sclerosis much earlier and develop better treatments to stop or slow down the progression of the disease.

Detecting MS earlier for a better outcome

The research focused on an animal model of MS using marmosets, a type of nonhuman primate. The researchers chose this method as marmoset brains are more similar to human brains than mouse brains, particularly in the ratio of white matter to gray matter.

White matter, which consists of nerve fibres, plays a key role in communication within the brain, and it is heavily affected in MS.

Using this model, the researchers created lesions in the marmoset brains similar to the ones found in human MS, and they tracked how these lesions developed in real-time using MRI imaging.

Treating and detecting multiple sclerosis

The team uncovered new MRI signatures that could identify areas of the brain at risk for MS damage before visible lesions appear.

By doing this, earlier detection is possible and could be a game changer as MS diagnoses occur after noticeable symptoms emerge.

Early detection could lead to earlier intervention, allowing for more effective treatments to prevent or slow the disease’s progression.

Understanding multiple sclerosis development

The researchers were also able to identify a variety of microenvironments within the brain tissue that play an important role in the development of MS-like lesions.

Microenvironments are influenced by neural activity, inflammation, immune responses, and the brain’s ability to repair itself. The study revealed complex interactions between immune cells, repair cells, and support cells in the brain, which can either help repair the tissue or contribute to further damage if not properly regulated.

One of the main findings from this research is the role of a specific type of brain cell called astrocytes. These cells, which support neurons, were found to express a gene known as SERPINE1, or plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI1). These astrocytes were observed at the edges of developing lesions, signalling potential future areas of damage. 

These astrocytes seemed to influence other brain cells, including immune cells that enter the brain and promote inflammation and precursor cells involved in myelin repair.

The findings suggest that these astrocytes play a double role in initiating repair processes and potentially contributing to further damage. This unexpected discovery shows the complexity of MS development and suggests that the earliest responses to inflammation may be protective but become overwhelmed as the disease progresses.

Providing implications for other brain-related injuries

The researchers suggested that the patterns of brain injury and repair they observed may be other brain injuries, such as traumatic brain injury, stroke, or infections.

This new brain map provides a detailed resource that could help compare different types of brain injuries in a way more aligned with human brain activity.

In the future, the researchers plan to expand their work by including aged animals in their studies to understand better the progression of MS in older populations.

This is particularly important because progressive MS, a form of the disease that worsens over time, remains an area with considerable unmet therapeutic needs.