Brain shrinkage as a crystal ball for MS progression?

This observational study follows about 2,400 people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) across Germany for up to six years. It asks whether loss of volume in the thalamus—a deep brain region—tracks with worsening disability, measured by the EDSS scale. Using standard MRI scans and deep-learning analysis, researchers will compare changes in brain volume to changes in disability over time. No extra procedures are required beyond routine care, and the goal is to see if thalamus shrinkage could serve as a reliable marker of disease progression.