Mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) is an innovative analytical technique that integrates chemical analysis with spatial localization, enabling label-free, in situ detection and visualization of diverse biomolecules within tissue sections. This review summarizes the recent advances in the application of MSI to neurological disorders, with a focus on Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia, and traumatic brain injury. Studies have demonstrated that MSI can delineate the spatial heterogeneity of disease-related molecules—such as neurotransmitters, lipids, and metabolites—thereby providing new perspectives for understanding the pathological mechanisms of neurodegenerative and psychiatric diseases. Platforms including MALDI-MSI and DESI-MSI have been effectively employed for visualizing drug distribution, characterizing lipid metabolic pathways, and identifying spatial biomarkers. Although challenges remain in quantitative accuracy, spatial resolution, and the detection of low-abundance molecules, advances in high-resolution mass spectrometry, single-cell-level imaging, and multi-omics integration are expected to further enhance the utility of MSI in the investigation of brain diseases.
Qiao et al. (Tue,) studied this question.