Translatable Models and MRI Methods for Neurodegenerative Diseases

MRI is a neuroimaging method capable of producing different types of contrasts, many of which provide distinct information on tissue microstructure and composition. There is increasing interest in developing MRI methods and associated models capable of probing specific tissue features of biological relevance. This in turn allows the development of novel imaging biomarkers of disease. Neurodegenerative diseases are of particular interest since imaging biomarkers are expected to reflect changes with disease stage and progression. Metrics such as the apparent diffusion coefficient, and also other diffusion-based measures, along with, for example, myelin water imaging, are now routinely used with the neuroscience community to understand structural brain changes with aging and disease. Recent research effort focusing on the next generation of imaging biomarkers provides a timely opportunity to synthesize recent effort and document how these methods may apply to routine clinical practice.

The growing capabilities of imaging technologies have been pivotal in advancing our understanding of functional, microstructural, and molecular changes in neurodegenerative diseases. To accelerate therapeutic outcomes, the use of novel imaging techniques and specifically defined biological models are part of the current focus in several neuroscientific lines of investigation. However, many research efforts may not see light in the form of clinical translation. Reasons may include translatability of findings across species, reproducibility of results, accuracy and sensitivity of metrics developed, and specificity of the imaging biomarker. It is therefore important to try and understand the potential impact of imaging biomarkers under development, and in the case of neurodegeneration, the biological relevance of the imaging biomarker. The perception that a divergence between new MRI technologies and their suitability for routine clinical use is emerging may be valid. Therefore, it is becoming increasingly important to focus research on translational MRI methodologies with potential clinical applications such as neurodegeneration. The overall goal of this Research Topic is to collate current MRI technology research and development and identify future imaging biomarkers of degeneration with potential for clinical translation.

For this Research Topic, we are welcoming contributions wherein innovative neuroimaging techniques, applicable in MRI-based neurodegenerative disease investigations, are described. The main expected outcome of this Research Topic is to offer readers a collective overview of current technologies to aid translational research in the diagnosis, monitoring, and advance of therapeutics in neurodegenerative diseases. A secondary expected outcome is the showcasing of how MRI methods can be validated, and the role of non-MRI biomedical imaging techniques for this purpose. A particular interest is in techniques involving models and algorithms with promise in characterizing and describing neurodegenerative diseases based on MRI data. This may lead authors to propose new imaging biomarkers with a distinct biologically relevant description and, one that is envisaged to be translatable to clinical practice. Both animal and human studies are welcomed, and where possible, findings should be supported by multi-faceted validation.