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Feasibility and Tolerability of Performing Portable MRI for Neurological Disorders in an Outpatient Neurology Clinic: A Prospective Cohort
Maya L Mastick, Nomin Enkhtsetseg, Joseph Sadok, Matheus Menão Mochetti, Annabel Sorby‐Adams, Jennifer D. Guo, Cristina Trapaga Hacker, Isabella Gomez Hjerthen et al.. Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology, 2026-01-28
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
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 ( η 2 = 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.
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APA 7th
Mastick, M. L., Enkhtsetseg, N., Sadok, J., Mochetti, M. M., Sorby‐Adams, A., Guo, J. D., et al. (2026). Feasibility and Tolerability of Performing Portable MRI for Neurological Disorders in an Outpatient Neurology Clinic: A Prospective Cohort. Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology. https://doi.org/10.1002/acn3.70326
Vancouver
Mastick ML, Enkhtsetseg N, Sadok J, Mochetti MM, Sorby‐Adams A, Guo JD, et al. Feasibility and Tolerability of Performing Portable MRI for Neurological Disorders in an Outpatient Neurology Clinic: A Prospective Cohort. Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology. 2026. doi:10.1002/acn3.70326. PMID: 41607060.
BibTeX
@article{mastick2026-41607060,
author = {Mastick, Maya L and Enkhtsetseg, Nomin and Sadok, Joseph and Mochetti, Matheus Menão and Sorby‐Adams, Annabel and Guo, Jennifer D. and Hacker, Cristina Trapaga and Hjerthen, Isabella Gomez and others},
title = {{Feasibility and Tolerability of Performing Portable MRI for Neurological Disorders in an Outpatient Neurology Clinic: A Prospective Cohort}},
journal = {Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology},
year = {2026},
doi = {10.1002/acn3.70326},
pmid = {41607060},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1002/acn3.70326}
}
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Key findings
- 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.
- 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 ( η 2 = 0.096).
- Conclusion These findings support the feasibility, tolerability, and high patient acceptability of pMRI.
Why it matters
This study tested whether a portable, low-field MRI scanner could be used in an outpatient clinic for people with neurological conditions including Alzheimer's-type dementia, and found it was tolerable and acceptable to patients. It is a feasibility study about imaging access and does not test any treatment, cure, or prevention.
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Study details
- Participants130
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 43/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology: journal h-index 97 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 5 / 5 | 2026 — within 1 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 2 / 4 | 130 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 1 / 7 | Cited 1 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 0 / 5 | 0.5 citations a year over 2 year(s) since 2026 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 4.7× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 0 / 4 | Cited 1 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Farrah Jasmine Mateen: h-index 49 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 3 / 3 | Harvard University: institution h-index 3,235 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 41607060) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 43 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
- DOI: 10.1002/acn3.70326
- PubMed: 41607060
- Original source →
- Free full text: Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
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