biostudies-literatureUnknown96(9)Klickovic UTarget ALSMedical Research CouncilBrain Research TrustMotor Neurone Disease AssociationUCLH NIHR Biomedical Research Centre<h4>Background and objectives</h4>Quantitative and operator-independent biomarkers of disease progression are urgently needed in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) research. We assess the potential of skeletal muscle MRI as a sensitive and reliable outcome measure for future ALS clinical trials.<h4>Methods</h4>In this longitudinal cohort study, muscle MRI of head-neck, upper and lower limb regions, alongside clinical and functional assessments, were acquired at three time points over the individual maximum observation period (iMOP) of 1 year in 20 patients with ALS and 16 healthy controls. Quantitative MRI parameters cross-sectional area (CSA), volume (VOL), fat fraction, functional rest muscle area and water T2 (T_2m) were correlated with changes in clinical disease severity (fJournal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry908-911https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12418527biostudies-literatureMuscle MRI quantifies disease progression in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.PMC12418527Morrow JMZafeiropoulos NDudziec MSharma NMalaspina AZampedri LZiff OJTrimmel KSidle KCShah SFratta PThornton JSGreensmith LKlickovic UWastling SYousry TAAllen JNasel CSinclair CDHoward RSfalseMuscle MRI quantifies disease progression in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.<h4>Background and objectives</h4>Quantitative and operator-independent biomarkers of disease progression are urgently needed in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) research. We assess the potential of skeletal muscle MRI as a sensitive and reliable outcome measure for future ALS clinical trials.<h4>Methods</h4>In this longitudinal cohort study, muscle MRI of head-neck, upper and lower limb regions, alongside clinical and functional assessments, were acquired at three time points over the individual maximum observation period (iMOP) of 1 year in 20 patients with ALS and 16 healthy controls. Quantitative MRI parameters cross-sectional area (CSA), volume (VOL), fat fraction, functional rest muscle area and water T2 (T_2m) were correlated with changes in clinical disease severity (f2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Aug2026-06-02T00:20:44.677Z2026-05-24T03:07:40.786ZS-EPMC124185274013287810.1136/jnnp-2024-335571