Brain Morphometry in Multiple Sclerosis

Changes in the volume of brain gray matter in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) are a core MRI feature of the disease. Alterations in gray matter volume have been found to reflect the severity of the disease but also the emergence of cognitive impairment in people with MS. These findings have led to increasing research into the neuropathological factors affecting gray matter volume and outcomes associated with gray matter volume changes. In this chapter, we discuss the methods used to assess gray matter volume on MRI, links to brain lesions, and other MS-related MRI features and the potential underlying mechanisms that may lead to gray matter atrophy. We consider the relationships between altered regional gray matter volume and both physical and cognitive disability. Last, we discuss how a better understanding of brain volume changes and their implications in MS may help us to improve the use of this metric in clinical trials and in estimating prognosis in individual patients.