Detecting Microvascular Abnormalities in Neurodegenerative Diseases using MICRO at 3T

Motivation: There is limited understanding of microvascular alterations in neurovascular diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS) and Parkinson’s disease (PD) using in vivo imaging techniques. Goal(s): To detect microvascular abnormalities using the novel imaging technique MICRO (Microvascular In-vivo Contrast Revealed Origins). Approach: MICRO imaging involves high resolution susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI) acquired in the presence of ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxides (USPIO). Results: As compared to non-contrast conventional vascular imaging, MICRO drastically improves the detection of microvascular abnormalities that can help in identifying the most vulnerable structures in vascular etiology of MS and PD. Impact: This multicentre study demonstrates that MICRO imaging has the potential to comprehensively study vascular pathology something that is often ignored in evaluating neurodegenerative diseases.