Healthy lives
Wearable brain imaging offers new insights into MS
A pioneering wearable brain imaging system is helping researchers understand how multiple sclerosis affects the brain during everyday activities, creating new opportunities to improve diagnosis, monitoring and treatment.
The challenge
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a lifelong condition that affects the brain and spinal cord, causing symptoms that can include fatigue, mobility problems, balance difficulties and changes in vision. However, many traditional brain scans are carried out while patients remain still, making it difficult to see how the brain functions during real-world activities and movement.
Our approach
Researchers have developed a lightweight, wearable brain imaging system that allows people to move naturally while their brain activity is measured. Unlike conventional MRI scans, which capture detailed images of brain structure, this technology records brain activity in real time.
The system enables researchers to study how the brain responds during everyday tasks such as standing and moving, providing a more complete picture of how MS affects neural function.
The impact
Using this technology, researchers have identified important differences in brain activity between people with MS and those without the condition. The findings provide new insights into how MS affects movement, balance and information processing in the brain.
By allowing patients to be studied in more natural settings, wearable brain imaging could transform the way neurological conditions are monitored. The technology has the potential to support earlier detection of changes in brain function, improve understanding of disease progression and help clinicians develop more personalised approaches to treatment and care.
"The symptoms of MS are unpredictable and differ between individuals, which makes managing the condition very difficult. Knowing exactly how the brain is affected in people with MS is a significant step towards understanding how symptoms occur. It is amazing that we can study brain function while patients stand up and, hopefully soon, while they walk. We hope this will eventually lead to better ways to manage the condition."
Professor Nikos Evangelou is a neurologist and researcher whose work focuses on multiple sclerosis and other neurological conditions. Using advanced imaging technologies and clinical research, he aims to improve the diagnosis, understanding and treatment of diseases affecting the brain and nervous system, helping to translate scientific discoveries into better care for patients.
Dr Christopher Gilmartin is is a neurology doctor and researcher developing new imaging approaches to improve the diagnosis and treatment of neurological diseases. His work combines advanced brain imaging, clinical research and patient-centred innovation to help identify disease progression earlier and improve outcomes for people living with neurological conditions.
Benjamin Sanders researches the next-generation wearable brain imaging technologies that enable brain activity to be studied during real-world tasks and movement. His work aims to advance understanding of neurological conditions and support the development of improved diagnostic and monitoring tools.
Professor Matt Brookes OBE is a leading brain imaging researcher at the 糖心原创. His pioneering work in wearable brain scanning technology is transforming how scientists study brain function and advancing the development of new healthcare technologies.