Beyond lesions: what advanced MRI may reveal about MS | S8E17

MRI scans are a familiar part of MS care – but what are they actually showing, and what might future scans reveal? In this episode of Living Well with MS, host Geoff Allix speaks with MRI physicist Bhavana Solanky from the Queen Square MS Centre at University College London, where she develops advanced MRI markers to better understand multiple sclerosis.  Bhavana explains how MRI is used to diagnose and monitor MS, from spotting new lesions to helping clinicians understand disease activity over time. She also explores how different types of MRI scans work, why the same scanner can produce several kinds of images, and how advanced techniques such as sodium MRI and spectroscopy are helping researchers look beyond visible lesions.  The conversation also covers why research volunteers are so important and how future scans could become faster and more comfortable.  Watch this episode on YouTube. Keep reading for the topics, timestamps, and our guest’s bio.  01:20 Meet MRI physicist Bhavana Solanky  01:57 Using MRI like a giant camera  02:46 Why MRI shows more than an x-ray  03:33 From astrophysics to MS research  05:17 How MRI scans create brain images  07:48 How active MS lesions can appear  08:25 Why MRI matters for MS diagnosis  09:50 The main MRI scans used in MS  12:35 One scanner, several different image types  13:28 Advanced MRI, sodium scans and spectroscopy  16:51 Why volunteers are vital to MS research  18:39 What sodium MRI research is finding  20:39 Why sodium MRI is not about dietary salt  22:10 Faster scans and future MS research  24:33 Why monitoring scans remain important  Learn more about Bhavana’s work and career  New to Overcoming MS? Learn why lifestyle matters in MS - begin your journey at our 'Get started' page Connect with others following Overcoming MS on the Live Well Hub Visit the Overcoming MS website Follow us on social media: Facebook Instagram YouTube Pinterest Don’t miss out: Subscribe to this podcast and never miss an episode. Listen to our archive of Living Well with MS here. Make sure you sign up to our newsletter to hear our latest tips and news about living a full and happy life with MS. Support us: If you enjoy this podcast and want to help us continue creating future podcasts, please leave a donation here. Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing [email protected]. If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review.