Advances in Spinal Cord MRI for Multiple Sclerosis: Julien Cohen-Adad, PhD

Advances in MRI are creating new opportunities to improve the detection and characterization of lesions in multiple sclerosis (MS). However, imaging the spinal cord remains challenging because of its small size and motion-related artifacts, which can obscure lesions with potential implications for disease prognosis and disability. Improvements in MRI hardware, image processing, and acquisition protocols may help address these limitations and improve the consistency of imaging across sites.

At the 10th Joint ACTRIMS-ECTRIMS Meeting (MSToronto), held October 21 to 23 in Toronto, Canada.¹, Julien Cohen-Adad, PhD, professor at Polytecnhique Montreal, discussed advances in brain and spinal cord imaging and their potential implications for MS research and clinical care. He highlighted the role of higher-field MRI and improved processing techniques in enabling more detailed visualization of lesions.

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“We’ve made progress in improving the hardware, the imaging protocols, and the processing tools that allow us to better visualize the spinal cord. These advances could help us detect lesions that are difficult to see with conventional imaging.”

AI may further support MRI analysis by helping process images and identify or segment lesions. However, Cohen-Adad emphasized the need to account for differences in imaging equipment, acquisition protocols, and patient populations. Algorithms developed using data from one setting may not perform equally well in another, underscoring the importance of validating these tools in diverse clinical environments.

To discuss these developments, NeurologyLive® spoke with Cohen-Adad about the evolving role of MRI in MS, the challenges of spinal cord imaging, and the opportunities and limitations of applying AI to clinical imaging. He also emphasized the importance of collaboration among researchers, clinicians, and MRI manufacturers to support the development and responsible implementation of imaging tools that can translate into real-world clinical practice.