A PET scan ([C-11]MRB) to measure brain injury in multiple sclerosis

This study aims to use [C-11]MRB PET (positron emission tomography) imaging to look at brain injury in patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and healthy individuals. The overarching hypothesis is that there is decreased radioligand binding to the norepinephrine transporter in multiple sclerosis, reflecting injury to the noradrenergic system and that it plays a role in disease pathogenesis, its clinical manifestations and severity. This strategy is targeted to address an unmet need because currently available MRI techniques lack sensitivity and specificity for assessing such changes in the brains of people with MS.

The specific aims of the study are:

1. To determine norepinephrine transporter binding in the brains of MS patients using [C-11]MRB PET and compare it with age, and sex matched healthy controls. 2. To determine correlation of norepinephrine transporter binding with clinical severity and MRI parameters in MS. 3. To determine correlation of norepinephrine transporter binding with fatigue and cognitive impairment in MS patients.