MBP researchers demonstrate new technique to see COVID-19 impact on the brain
A new brain-imaging study led by MBP faculty member Dr. Jean Chen has introduced the application of a novel imaging tool which can be used to uncover extensive brain changes due to COVID-19. This work is a part of the multi-site NeuroCOVID Study led by a team of U of T researchers, notably Drs. Simon Graham and Bradley MacIntosh from MBP, co-authors of this study.
This research uses mathematical modeling and human MRI data to demonstrate the ability of a new form of MRI known as correlated diffusion imaging (CDI) (developed by Waterloo Systems Design Engineering professor Alexander Wong to detect prostate cancer) to uncover subtle brain changes never before seen in COVID-19. The CDI images of frontal-lobe white matter revealed a less restricted diffusion of water molecules in COVID-19 patients, while the cerebellum revealed more restricted diffusion, which could both be telltale signs of neuroinflammation brought on by COVID-19 infection.
"I was initially attracted by the theoretical simplicity of CDI, but never thought it could work so well in the brain. Our paper demonstrates that CDI is more sensitive to changes in water movement in the brain's white matter fibres than more advanced MRI techniques. Congrats also to everyone on the NeuroCOVID team for this discovery, and big thanks to my Research Assistant, Nick Teller, who did most of the heavy lifting. I am also deeply appreciative of Dr. Alexander Wong and his team for collaborating with us on this work." –Dr. Chen
As Canada Research Chair in Neuroimaging of Aging, Dr. Chen believes this work opens new possibilities for brain researchers and will benefit the clinical translation of neuroimaging techniques that she and others are committed to developing.