Quantitative multi-parametric mapping of human subcortex at ultrahigh field

Motivation: Many neurodegenerative diseases affect subcortical nuclei early. Quantitative MRI (qMRI) offers a unique non-invasive tool for detection of neurodegeneration at its early stage, paving the way for development of potential therapies. Goal(s): Ultra-high resolution multi-modal cartography of human subcortex capable of detecting subtle longitudinal changes in macro- and microstructure of subcortical nuclei. Approach: We combined high resolution multi-parametric mapping using 7T, pTx and advanced reconstruction with automated segmentation of subcortical structures. Performance was tested across two sites. Results: While qMRI repeatability varied strongly by structure, automated parcellation was highly repeatable, making the protocol a promising candidate for further studies. Impact: We present a method for multi-contrast quantification of subcortical microstructure. Our high-resolution MRI acquisition and analysis protocol aims to enable longitudinal multi-center studies to detect subcortical neurodegeneration at its early stage.