New wearable imaging technique could help detect subtle changes in MS

In a new research study, researchers tested a new brain-scanning technique called OPM-MEG to see what’s happening in the brain in MS in real time. OPM-MEG is a wearable device, similar to a helmet. That means it can be worn while moving and completing tasks whilst sitting or standing, unlike most traditional scanning techniques.

In their new paper, researchers showed that OPM-MEG can detect known differences between people with and without MS. Now researchers can explore what new insights into MS the technique could provide. For example, we’re funding two new studies at the University of Nottingham that investigate brain connectivity and MS progression using the OPM-MEG technique.

What did the researchers do?

The researchers included twenty people with MS and twenty people without MS. They used OPM-MEG technology to measure brain activity in participants both at rest and while performing tasks. The participants did this whilst either sitting or standing.

What did the researchers find?

The researchers were able to detect known brain changes connected to MS. For example, slower responses to movement and visual stimulation. We already know about these changes through other scanning techniques.

They also found that standing affected brain activity and connectivity differently compared with sitting. This shows that posture matters.

What does this mean for people with MS?

This study is an important first step in showing that OPM-MEG is a promising technology for measuring brain changes in MS. It could open the door to more flexible and comfortable brain monitoring in the future. Because OPM-MEG sensors are portable and allow movement, they could be used in more realistic settings. This could help enable patients to move and complete tasks.

It could offer several advantages over traditional scanning methods. For example, it’s more affordable and easier to move around than an MRI machine. It can also pick up changes in brain activity the instant they happen, which gives us a precise picture of what's happening in the brain in real time. Other techniques, like EEG, are also portable, but they aren't as accurate as OPM-MEG at showing where in the brain changes are happening.

Over time, this could help improve our understanding of MS. For example, we could use it to detect how someone’s MS progresses over time. Or how it responds to treatment.

What’s next?

This research is still in its early stages. We'll need more studies to better understand how the technology works in MS. OPM-MEG is also being investigated for other brain conditions, like epilepsy and dementia.

We’re excited to see where this technology will lead next. In the long run, we hope this could help provide greater certainty for people living with MS about the future.

You can read the full paper on the journal website