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Quantitative MRI measures of thalamic microstructural integrity in patients with multiple sclerosis
Thalamus represents a pivotal structure to study MS-associated neurodegeneration. In this study we investigated the alterations in thalamic microstructure of MS patients by using magnetization transfer saturation (MTsat), T1-relaxometry, and myelin water fraction (MWF). Compared to healthy controls (HCs), MS patients presented significant modifications in the thalamic quantitative MRI metrics, suggesting ongoing microstructural and myelin loss. The thalamic quantitative MRI metrics explored showed variable degrees of association with MS lesion burden, brain atrophic changes, as well as with clinical and cognitive disability.