Simultaneous Myelin and Myelin Water Mapping Using Dual-Echo STAIR-Cones Sequence

Motivation: Myelin proton fraction (MPF) and myelin water fraction (MWF) measured with short-TR adiabatic inversion-recovery (STAIR) sequences are potential biomarkers of neurodegeneration but require two distinct sequences. Goal(s): We aim to measure both the MPF and MWF with a single dual-echo (DE)-STAIR-Cones sequence. Approach: Three volunteers were scanned with the DE-STAIR-Cones sequence for myelin and MW mapping, on a 3T clinical scanner. Results: The single sequence successfully quantified the MPF, with and without decay correction, and the MWF with values comparable to those of previous studies. Impact: The DE-STAIR-Cones, as a singular sequence, can measure the myelin imaging biomarkers of MPF and MWF, which may help in understanding the mechanism of these myelin imaging biomarkers for the assessment of neuroinflammatory/neurodegenerative diseases.