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bioRxiv · 10.64898/2026.03.24.713975

Age and IFN-β-induced changes in glial morphometry can be captured by in vivo diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

Periche-Tomas, E.·Ronen, I.·Underwood, J.·Evans, J.·MacIver, C.·Leach, H.·Branzoli, F.·Cercignani, M.·Harrison, N. A.
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Abstract

IntroductionNeuroinflammation is increasingly implicated in age-related cognitive decline, neurodegeneration and neuropsychiatric disorders. During systemic inflammation, microglia are rapidly activated, simultaneously changing their shape and releasing cytokines that perturb neuronal function. This change in glial morphology alters their intracellular diffusion properties and provides a potentially measurable signature of their activation state. Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance spectroscopy (dMRS) shows promise in detecting these changes. Here, we combined IFN-{beta} challenge with dMRS to assess changes in metabolite diffusion in healthy young and older adults. We hypothesised that IFN-{beta} would increase diffusion of choline-containing compounds (tCho) but not N-acetylaspartate + N-acetylaspartylglutamate (tNAA), age would be associated with an increase in tCho diffusion and concentration, lower tNAA concentration and increased effects of IFN-{beta}. MethodsWe recruited 15 young (mean 25.2 {+/-} 5.1 years, 6 male) and 15 older (mean 62.6 {+/-} 4.1 years, 5 male) healthy volunteers, each tested twice, once after IFN-{beta} and once after placebo. Physiological and behavioural responses were recorded hourly, and blood samples taken at baseline, 4 and 6.5 hours post-injection. dMRS occurred at [~]4.5 hours at 3T, using a semi-LASER sequence with four diffusion weightings (b = 0 and 3 x 3500 s/mm{superscript 2}), in 4.5 cm3 VOIs in the left thalamus and corona radiata. Apparent Diffusion Coefficients (ADCs) of tCho, tNAA and creatine+phosphocreatine (tCr) were calculated from averaged spectra using custom MATLAB software. ResultsIFN-{beta} administration produced a significant increase in thalamic tCho diffusivity compared with placebo (t(28) = -2.15, p = 0.040), with no change in tNAA or tCr ADC, or tCho concentrations. IFN-{beta}-related increases in tCho ADC positively correlated with increases in circulating IL-6 (R{superscript 2} = 0.14, p = 0.040). Age-related effects were also evident during the placebo condition, with older participants showing lower thalamic tNAA diffusivity (t(27) = 2.86, p = 0.008), lower tNAA/tCr in both grey and white matter (grey: t(27) = 2.49, p = 0.023; white: t(27) = 2.94, p = 0.007), and higher white-matter tCho/tCr (t(27) = -2.23, p = 0.034). ConclusiondMRS detected IFN-{beta}-induced increases in thalamic tCho diffusivity corresponding with peripheral inflammation, supporting its sensitivity to acute inflammation-induced changes in glial morphology. Age-related differences in tNAA diffusion and concentrations further highlight metabolite-specific ageing effects. HighlightsO_LIdMRS detects increased thalamic total choline diffusivity following IFN-{beta}-induced inflammation. C_LIO_LIIFN-{beta}-related changes in total choline diffusivity are associated with peripheral IL-6 responses. C_LIO_LIAgeing is linked to reduced NAA diffusion and higher white-matter tCho/tCr C_LIO_LIdMRS is sensitive to inflammation- and age-related neurochemical changes in vivo. C_LI

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Periche-Tomas, E., Ronen, I., Underwood, J., Evans, J., MacIver, C., Leach, H., Branzoli, F., Cercignani, M., Harrison, N. A.. 2026-03-26. Age and IFN-β-induced changes in glial morphometry can be captured by in vivo diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance spectroscopy.. https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.03.24.713975

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