BrainAgeMS protocol: 7 T MRI brain-age markers in healthy adults and people with MS
The BrainAgeMS protocol plans a single-center, cross-sectional comparison of 100 healthy controls and 100 people with MS aged 18–65, testing whether 7 T MRI measures can serve as imaging markers of brain age; results are not yet reported. [1]
Automatic summary · not editorially reviewed
The key findings
The planned study is a prospective, single-center, cross-sectional comparative study of 200 participants aged 18–65: 100 healthy controls and 100 people with MS. [1]
All participants are to undergo PhenoAge blood testing, motor, cognitive and psychological assessments, and 7 T MRI with multipool CEST and T1 relaxometry. [1]
The primary outcomes are two brain-age gaps in people with MS, comparing estimated brain age with chronological age and with PhenoAge. [1]
The source at a glance
- Study type / format
- Prospective, single-center, cross-sectional comparative study protocol (abstract only)
- Population / context
- 200 participants aged 18–65 years: 100 healthy controls and 100 people with multiple sclerosis.
- Summary based on
- Study abstract
- Original publication
- August 11, 2026
Planned comparison of 100 healthy controls and 100 people with MS
The protocol describes a prospective, single-center, cross-sectional comparative study recruiting 200 participants aged 18–65 years: 100 healthy controls and 100 people with multiple sclerosis (MS). The authors note that biological brain aging can diverge from chronological aging, particularly in chronic neurological conditions such as MS, where neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative processes may accelerate age-related brain changes. The stated aim is to determine whether multipool Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer (CEST) and T1 relaxometry at 7 T can serve as biologically grounded imaging markers of brain age in these two groups.
Supporting source [1]
Planned measurements: PhenoAge blood test, assessments and 7 T MRI
All participants are to undergo blood sampling for biological age determination using the PhenoAge algorithm, motor, cognitive and psychological assessments, and 7 T MRI with multipool CEST and T1 relaxometry. A brain age prediction model trained on healthy control data will then be applied to people with MS to derive a brain age gap. The primary outcomes are two brain-age gaps in people with MS: the differences between estimated brain age and (i) chronological age and (ii) PhenoAge. Secondary outcomes include associations of these gaps with disability, cognition, fatigue and quality of life.
Supporting source [1]
Protocol stage: possible future monitoring role, no results reported
The abstract presents a study protocol, not findings. It states that, if validated, these quantitative MRI markers could complement existing tools for MS disease monitoring and serve as outcome measures for future brain health interventions. This is a conditional prospect, not a demonstrated benefit. The record is registered as NCT06221631. Because only the abstract was reviewed, details such as recruitment status, actual follow-up and results cannot be assessed here.
Supporting source [1]
How to interpret this
Only the abstract was reviewed; the full text was not reviewed. This is a study protocol, so no results, recruitment status or follow-up data are reported here. The possible monitoring role is described conditionally ('if validated').
Based on the study abstract; the full paper, tables and supplementary data were not reviewed.
Source & supporting passages
Navarrete S, Capiglioni M, Marti S, Pirpamer L, McKinley R, Hoepner R, León Betancourt A, Radojewski P. · europepmc.org · August 11, 2026