Despite glia playing a pivotal role in the pathophysiology of psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders, current methods for imaging these cells in vivo present a myriad of limitations. In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Silvia de Santis, who introduces a game-changing, noninvasive method for imaging changes in glia morphology using diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Dr. De Santis and her team have validated this method in rat models of neuroinflammation, degeneration, and demyelination, demonstrating that diffusion-weighted MRI can provide insights into microglia and astrocyte activation. More importantly, this method has the sensitivity to detect changes in glia morphology and proliferation, enabling a quantitative evaluation of neuroinflammation that is independent of neuronal loss or demyelinating injury.

Extending the findings to humans, they have shown significant associations between MRI and histological microglia markers, proving the translational value of this novel approach. Join us as we explore how this groundbreaking work by Dr. De Santis can revolutionize both basic and clinical research, providing valuable insights into the role of inflammation in health and disease.

Keywords: Glia Morphology, Diffusion-weighted MRI, Neuroinflammation, Neurodegeneration, Demyelination, Microglia, Astrocyte, Noninvasive Imaging, Dr. Silvia de Santis.

Mapping microglia and astrocyte activation in vivo using diffusion MRI https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.abq2923 Science