High-field MRI to detect muscle changes in age-related muscle loss
Official title: Quantitative and Spectroscopic Imaging of Skeletal Muscle Changes in Sarcopenia at High Field
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-11388325 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Very strong MRI scans will measure muscle quality, fat, and chemistry in older adults with sarcopenia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $115,500 |
| NIH project number | 3R00AG066815-05S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11388325 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Older adults with known or suspected sarcopenia or unexplained leg muscle weakness who can travel to Boston for study visits.
✕Less likely to help
People with MRI-incompatible implants, severe claustrophobia, or those without muscle loss are unlikely to benefit from this work.
What this research studies
You would complete leg muscle function tests and questionnaires and have a leg MRI on an ultra-high-field scanner to get very detailed images and spectroscopy. The team will extract biomarkers such as muscle shape, T2 relaxation, water diffusion, fat fraction, and lipid composition. Researchers aim to connect these imaging features to how well your muscles work and to how they respond to treatments. This supplement funds a research fellow who will consent participants, run study visits, process data, and communicate results.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could provide non-invasive imaging markers to track muscle health and help guide treatment for sarcopenia.
How similar studies have gone: Prior MRI work on muscle composition has been promising, but ultra-high-field imaging and spectroscopy for sarcopenia are relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sveinsson, Bragi — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Sveinsson, Bragi
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.