A new and powerful scanner device is able to provide high resolution images of the human brain, in a way never seen before. Experts believe that the details displayed by the equipment will enhance studies of diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and psychiatric disorders.
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In recent months and after the release of health regulatory bodies, 20 volunteers underwent tests on the MRI Iseult MRI. The machine, the result of 20 years of research and development, is located in a laboratory in Saclay, a city south of Paris.
In four minutesthe machine generates detailed images of the organ thanks to the magnetic field of 11.7 tesla – an impressive resolution for the short shooting period. For comparison, the same image quality would require hours with currently used MRI scanners, which do not exceed 3 teslas.
The device also allows monitoring the action of lithium in the brain, a substance present in medications for bipolar disorder, monitoring molecules such as glucose and glutamate, to facilitate the diagnosis of diseases such as gliomas and neurodegeneration.
“With the Iseult project, a whole new world opens up before our eyes and we are excited to explore it. We still need several years of research to develop and improve our acquisition methods and ensure that the data is of the highest quality possible. Our goal is to investigate neurodegenerative diseases by 2026-2030, as well as other diseases that fall more under the umbrella of psychiatry, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorders. Cognitive sciences will also have a fundamental importance in our research!”, explained Nicolas Boulant, Head of the Iseult project and Director of Research at the French Atomic Energy Commission (CEA)
