Tractography-informed estimation of local axonal damage in multiple sclerosis

Motivation: Assessing myelin damage in multiple sclerosis (MS) is essential, as it can yield crucial insights into disease mechanisms. Goal(s): This work provides a novel method to assess myelin damage in MS, offering detailed information that outperforms traditional measures. Approach: We extended a microstructure-informed tractography framework by adding an ad-hoc compartment that explicitly models potential myelin loss of the fiber tracts affected by lesions. Results: The estimated myelin loss significantly correlates with motor disability and disease progression, enhancing our understanding of demyelination in MS pathology. Impact: In this work, we used an innovative method to compute myelin loss, providing insight that a standard myelin-sensitive map couldn't provide. These values significantly correlate with motor disability and disease progression, enhancing our understanding of MS pathology and treatment effects.