summary: The authors used an advanced magnetic imaging technique, called spectroscopy, to assess the neuronal damage in the brain white matter outside visible lesions (the so called “normal appearing white matter”), in people with relapsing-remitting and secondary progressive MS and in a group of healthy controls. They found that people with secondary progressive MS, but not those with relapsing-remitting MS, had lower levels of N-acetyl-aspartate, a marker of neuronal damage, compared with controls. They concluded that lower levels of N-acetyl-aspartate in the normal appearing white matter may be a typical feature of progression in MS.

authors: Aboul-Enein F, Krssák M, Höftberger R, Prayer D, Kristoferitsch W.

source: PLoS One. 2010 Jul 20;5(7):e11625.

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