Exploring Correlations Between Imaging Biomarkers of Macromolecular, Myelin Water, and Myelin Content in the Brain

Motivation: Myelin imaging metrics have varying degrees of association with histology but have not yet been correlated with each other. Goal(s): To explore correlations between macromolecular protein, myelin water, and non-aqueous myelin content on a 3T clinical scanner. Approach: Seven healthy volunteers were scanned using an MT-Cones sequence to provide for two-pool MT modeling of macromolecular proton fraction (MMF), a STAIR-STE-Cones sequence to quantify myelin water fraction (MWF), and a STAIR-UTE-Cone to estimate non-aqueous myelin proton fraction (MPF). Results: Strong, significant correlations were found between these three myelin imaging biomarkers with R values of 0.856, 0.876, and 0.775, respectivelyImpact: Strong positive correlations were found between the three imaging biomarkers of macromolecular, myelin water, and non-aqueous myelin components. This may help in understanding the value of these myelin imaging biomarkers in the assessment of neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases.