# Neuroimaging Biomarkers for Friedreich's Ataxia: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of the TRACK-FA Study Discover the largest neuroimaging study on Friedreich's ataxia, TRACK-FA. Learn about significant differences in brain and spinal cord development between patients and controls, including young children. Explore key findings and the potential of imaging biomarkers in clinical trials. 22 Mar 25 publications # Neuroimaging Biomarkers for Friedreich's Ataxia: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of the TRACK-FA Study Anthony Gabay Marina Papoutsi Michelle Lax Richard Parker Veena Supramaniam Friedreich Ataxia [ ](https://x.com/intent/tweet?url=https://ixico.com/news-and-resources/publications/neuroimaging-biomarkers-for-friedreich-ataxia-a-cross-sectional-analysis-of-the-track-fa-study/) [ ](https://bsky.app/intent/compose?text=https://ixico.com/news-and-resources/publications/neuroimaging-biomarkers-for-friedreich-ataxia-a-cross-sectional-analysis-of-the-track-fa-study/) [ ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://ixico.com/news-and-resources/publications/neuroimaging-biomarkers-for-friedreich-ataxia-a-cross-sectional-analysis-of-the-track-fa-study/) [ ](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://ixico.com/news-and-resources/publications/neuroimaging-biomarkers-for-friedreich-ataxia-a-cross-sectional-analysis-of-the-track-fa-study/) ![Neuroimaging Biomarkers for Friedreich Ataxia 1](/assets/blog-images/Neuroimaging-Biomarkers-for-Friedreich-Ataxia-1__ScaleMaxWidthWzgwMF0_FillMaxWzgwMCw0NTBd_ExtRewriteWyJwbmciLCJ3ZWJwIl0.webp)**Neuroimaging Biomarkers for Friedreich Ataxia: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of the TRACK-FA Study** ### Objective Our study aims to quantify differences in the brain and spinal cord between individuals with Friedreich's ataxia and healthy controls. This includes stratification by age and disease stage, and for the first time, the inclusion of young children. ### Methods **TRACK-FA** is the largest prospective, longitudinal, multi-modal neuroimaging study on Friedreich's ataxia to date. We assessed individuals aged 5 to 42 years with Friedreich's ataxia and healthy controls at seven sites across four continents. The study included 17 primary imaging outcome measures (POMs) selected from metrics showing significant longitudinal changes in previous smaller studies. These measures included: - **Brain and spinal cord morphometry** (structural MRI) - **Microstructure** (diffusion MRI) - **Brain iron levels** (quantitative susceptibility mapping) - **Spinal cord biochemistry** (magnetic resonance spectroscopy) This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04349514). ### Results Between February 2021 and August 2023, we assessed 169 individuals with Friedreich's ataxia and 95 healthy controls. Key findings include: - **Lower volume** of the dentate nucleus and superior cerebellar peduncles in individuals with Friedreich's ataxia compared to controls. - **Smaller cross-sectional area** of the spinal cord in Friedreich's ataxia patients. - **Lower fractional anisotropy** and **higher diffusivity** in the spinal cord and superior cerebellar peduncles. - **Lower total N-acetyl-aspartate/myo-inositol ratio** in the spinal cord. Morphometric differences in the spinal cord and superior cerebellar peduncles increased dramatically with age during childhood, showing rapid development in controls but not in Friedreich's ataxia patients. Many imaging POMs showed significant associations with clinical severity. ### Interpretation Our findings provide strong imaging evidence of impaired development of the spinal cord and superior cerebellar peduncles during childhood in Friedreich's ataxia. This opens the way for the use of neuroimaging biomarkers in clinical trials. **Read the full article [here](https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ana.27237)** [ Back to Scientific Publications ](/news-and-resources/publications/) ### Recents ![Evaluating the Impact of Scanner Harmonisation with ComBat on Longitudinal Brain Volume Measures in Huntington’s Disease](/assets/blog-images/EHDN-2026-Poster__ScaleMaxWidthWzgwMF0_FillMaxWzgwMCw0NTBd_ExtRewriteWyJwbmciLCJ3ZWJwIl0.webp) 29 Oct 26 publications [Evaluating the Impact of Scanner Harmonisation with ComBat on Longitudinal Brain Volume Measures in Huntington’s Disease](/news-and-resources/publications/new-blog-evaluating-the-impact-of-scanner-harmonisation-with-combat-on-longitudinal-brain-volume-measures-in-huntingtons-disease-post/) [Neuromelanin-Sensitive MRI of the Substantia Nigra: Comparing TSE and MT-GRE Contrast](/news-and-resources/publications/contrast-ratio-assessment-of-the-substantia-nigra-in-neuromelanin-sensitive-mri/) [Improving Neuromelanin-sensitive MRI measurement ](/news-and-resources/publications/improving-neuromelanin-sensitive-mri-measurement/) [Further validation of IXI technology platform automation capabilities](/news-and-resources/publications/further-validation-of-ixi-technology-platform-automation-capabilities/) [Interchangeability of blood-based biomarkers and PET to identify Alzheimer's disease pathology](/news-and-resources/publications/interchangeability-of-blood-based-biomarkers-and-pet-to-identify-alzheimers-disease-pathology/) ### Library [November 2026](/news-and-resources/publications/archive/2026/11/) [October 2026](/news-and-resources/publications/archive/2026/10/) [September 2026](/news-and-resources/publications/archive/2026/09/) [July 2026](/news-and-resources/publications/archive/2026/07/) [June 2026](/news-and-resources/publications/archive/2026/06/) [May 2026](/news-and-resources/publications/archive/2026/05/) [April 2026](/news-and-resources/publications/archive/2026/04/) [March 2026](/news-and-resources/publications/archive/2026/03/) [February 2026](/news-and-resources/publications/archive/2026/02/) [January 2026](/news-and-resources/publications/archive/2026/01/) [2025](/news-and-resources/publications/archive/2025/) [2024](/news-and-resources/publications/archive/2024/) [2023](/news-and-resources/publications/archive/2023/) [2022](/news-and-resources/publications/archive/2022/) [2021](/news-and-resources/publications/archive/2021/) [2020](/news-and-resources/publications/archive/2020/) [2019](/news-and-resources/publications/archive/2019/)