Ultra-high-field MRI to see 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-11118933 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Using very detailed MRI and spectroscopy, this project looks at muscle structure and fat in older adults with sarcopenia and links those images to strength and walking speed.
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 | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $244,020 |
| NIH project number | 5R00AG066815-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11118933 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Older adults with signs of muscle weakness or a diagnosis of sarcopenia who can safely undergo high-field MRI (no incompatible metal implants and able to lie in the scanner) would be ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without muscle loss, or those who cannot have MRI due to implanted devices, severe claustrophobia, or other contraindications, are unlikely to benefit or participate.
What this research studies
You would get ultra-high-field MRI scans that create very sharp water-based images of muscle structure and maps of fat inside muscle cells. The team will use special spectroscopic techniques to measure different kinds of muscle fat (methyl and methylene) to estimate saturation. They will compare these imaging measures with simple tests like grip strength and gait speed to understand how image findings relate to function. The goal is to develop non-invasive imaging markers that could help define and track sarcopenia over time.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could provide better non-invasive imaging tools to detect and monitor sarcopenia and help guide future treatments.
How similar studies have gone: MRI and muscle spectroscopy have been used before in muscle research, but applying ultra-high-field imaging and detailed intramyocellular lipid mapping is a newer approach that aims to provide higher-resolution, more specific measurements.
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.