Correlated Diffusion Imaging: A Breakthrough in Detecting COVID-19 Effects on the Human Brain

2023-06-14 08:31:20

pte20230614008 Medicine/Wellness, Research/Development

“Correlated Diffusion Imaging” detects subtle changes in the white matter

Brain scans: COVID-19 doesn’t just change the lungs (Photo: pixabay.com, Dmitriy Gutarev)

Waterloo/Toronto (pte008/14.06.2023/10:30)

researchers of University of Waterloo have developed an MRI procedure that can visualize better than many existing systems how COVID-19 is changing the human brain. “Correlated Diffusion Imaging” (CDI) goes back to Alexander Wong and has now been used for a study by the Rotman Research Institute us des Sunnybrook Hospital deployed. Details were published in “Human Brain Mapping”.

brain reacts differently

According to Wong, many people assume that COVID-19 only affects the lungs. “However, our new MRI method is very good at identifying changes in the brain. COVID-19 changes the white matter,” says the researcher. He originally developed CDI to better detect cancer. The technique better represents the differences in the way water molecules move in tissue. For this purpose, MRI signals are recorded at different pulse strengths and timings and mixed together.

Researchers at the Rotman Research Institute, who specialize in studying how the brain works, hypothesized that Wong’s invention could also be used to identify changes in the mind. Frontal lobe white matter CDI images show less restricted distribution of water molecules in COVID-19 patients. At the same time, those affected have a more restricted distribution in the cerebellum. Wong Nach, these two areas of the brain respond differently to COVID-19. The cerebellum is likely to be more susceptible to infection. The current study also confirms the theory that COVID-19 leads to changes in the brain.

CDI also in other diseases

Wong therefore suggests future research should focus on whether COVID-19 actually causes damage to brain tissue. Additional studies could also determine whether COVID-19 changes gray matter. He hopes this research will lead to improved diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19. “However, this could only be the beginning for CDI. This method could also be used to study degenerative processes in other diseases such as Alzheimer’s or to detect breast or prostate cancer.”

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