Abstract
BACKGROUND: Accessing brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be challenging, especially for underserved patients, which may lead to disparities in neurological diagnosis.
METHOD: This mixed-methods study enrolled adults with one of four neurological disorders: mild cognitive impairment or dementia of the Alzheimer type, multiple sclerosis (MS), Parkinson disease (PD), or stroke. Participants were enrolled at the Massachusetts General Hospital outpatient clinic in Boston (01/2021-08/2025) and underwent a point-of-care, low-field portable MRI (pMRI) using a 0.064 T scanner (Hyperfine) and pre- and post-scan surveys. For comparison, all participants had received a standard clinical brain MRI of at least 1.5T.
RESULTS: Of the 130 participants (54% male, 46% female), the mean age was 60.6 years (standard deviation (SD) = 17.5). 71% reported at least one barrier to MRI care. The median interval between pMRI and standard MRI brain imaging was 48.5 days (25th, 75th percentiles: 26, 112.5). Participants rated pMRI as highly tolerable, with 93% reporting comfort scores ≥ 7 (on a 10-point scale), and 78% indicating willingness to undergo future pMRI. Mean comfort ratings were significantly higher for pMRI (8.4) compared to traditional MRI (7.5; p < 0.05), though the effect size was moderate (η2 = 0.096). No differences in tolerability or comfort were observed across disease, age, or sex groups. Common barriers to standard MRI access included transportation, cost, and scheduling, particularly among low-income or unemployed participants. Qualitative feedback emphasized the need for better physical accommodations but broadly supported the acceptability and potential uses of pMRI.
CONCLUSION: These findings support the feasibility, tolerability, and high patient acceptability of pMRI.