Characterization of the mechanical tissue properties of the developing brain with magnetic resonance elastography

Description

About the project

This project aims at characterizing the mechanical properties of the brain through Magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) in adolescents and older children and at correlating them with risk factors for developing anxiety disorders. Our long-term goal is to characterize the mechanical properties of the brain at different ages with the aim of improving the diagnosis and treatment of anxiety disorders in the young population. Our long term aim is to extend this project to characterize the mechanical properties of the brain at different stages of brain development, which can be used to improve the diagnoses of various neuropsychological diseases, especially at early stages where treatments are more likely to have an effect, and to better track the response of patients to treatments.

Background

Very little is currently known about the evolution of the mechanical tissue properties of the brain in the first two decades of life. Such information can be valuable to improve the diagnosis of prevalent neuropsychiatric disorders in the young population, in particular, anxiety disorders. MRE in the brain is a new technique in which mechanical properties of the brain tissue are estimated non-invasively. MRE has barely been used in children. MRE for the brain is only available in a few sites worldwide. This Spring, KTH will become the only site in Sweden with this technology. This opens a tremendous strategic opportunity for KTH to take the lead in its use for brain diseases.'

Collaborations

Psychology Department at Stockholm University.

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