Abstract
Advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques hold the promise to capture upper motor neuron loss and extramotor brain changes in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and as such deliver biomarkers relevant to diagnosis, prognosis and monitoring disease progression. However, a correlation between imaging parameters and clinical metrics has thus far been inconsistent across studies. We discuss the contributing factors to this clinical-imaging correlation gap as well as its implications for future research.
Acknowledgement
We wish to acknowledge the attendees of the 4th Neuroimaging Society in ALS (NiSALS) meeting in Milan (December 2013), for the lively discussion on this subject.
Declaration of interest: EV received compensation for consultation and/or speaking activities from Biogen Idec. MRT received compensation for consultation and/or speaking activities from Biogen Idec.
MF is Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Neurology. He serves on scientific advisory boards for Teva Pharmaceutical Industries; has received compensation for consulting services and/or speaking activities from Biogen Idec, Excemed, Novartis, and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries; and receives research support from Biogen Idec, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, Novartis, Italian Ministry of Health, Fondazione Italiana Sclerosi Multipla, Cure PSP, Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF), the Jacques and Gloria Gossweiler Foundation (Switzerland), and ARiSLA (Fondazione Italiana di Ricerca per la SLA).
JG and MB reported no potential conflicts of interest.