Exploring white matter microstructural alterations in mild cognitive impairment: a multimodal diffusion MRI investigation utilizing diffusion kurtosis and free-water imaging

Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) is a transitional stage from normal aging to dementia, characterized by noticeable changes in cognitive function that do not significantly impact daily life. Diffusion MRI (dMRI) plays a crucial role in understanding MCI by assessing white matter integrity and revealing early signs of axonal degeneration and myelin breakdown before cognitive symptoms appear.