# Research Progress on the Application of Mass Spectrometry Imaging Technology in Cerebral Disease

## TL;DR

Mass spectrometry imaging helps visualize biomolecules in brain tissues, offering new insights into diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.

## Contribution

This review highlights recent advances in using MSI for neurological disorders and outlines future directions for improving its capabilities.

## Key findings

- MSI can reveal spatial heterogeneity of molecules like neurotransmitters and lipids in brain diseases.
- MALDI-MSI and DESI-MSI are effective for drug visualization and lipid pathway characterization.
- Future improvements in resolution and multi-omics integration could enhance MSI's utility in brain research.

## Abstract

Mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) is an innovative analytical technique that integrates chemical analysis with spatial localization, enabling label-free, in situ detection and visualization of diverse biomolecules within tissue sections. This review summarizes the recent advances in the application of MSI to neurological disorders, with a focus on Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia, and traumatic brain injury. Studies have demonstrated that MSI can delineate the spatial heterogeneity of disease-related molecules—such as neurotransmitters, lipids, and metabolites—thereby providing new perspectives for understanding the pathological mechanisms of neurodegenerative and psychiatric diseases. Platforms including MALDI-MSI and DESI-MSI have been effectively employed for visualizing drug distribution, characterizing lipid metabolic pathways, and identifying spatial biomarkers. Although challenges remain in quantitative accuracy, spatial resolution, and the detection of low-abundance molecules, advances in high-resolution mass spectrometry, single-cell-level imaging, and multi-omics integration are expected to further enhance the utility of MSI in the investigation of brain diseases.