This study above is done in cadavers and healthy people. When...

This study above is done in cadavers and healthy people. When looking at the 6-month and 12-month reports of MRI results in the open ATH434- study it may be important to look at what QSM measures: not only iron but also myelinization.

When MSA progresses it is evident that iron content increases and myelinization gradually stops (?). In the BioMuse study, there was clear atrophy of the brain at 6 and 12 months. Iron increased and myelinization diminished resulting in a picture of atrophy. But with ATH434 we try to get rid of extra iron and improve myelinization. Myelinization (IMO) would increase the volume but it could also be interpreted as iron when both influence the QSM image.

The 3 cases with 12-month follow-up demonstrated that the brain volume was stable from 6 months to 12 months. So this could be caused by increased myelinization and partly by decreased iron (?).

Why was iron content stable in substantial nigra for all 12 months? Perhaps the real iron content went down but myelinization increased and so QSM demonstrated no change.