Multicompartment imaging using comprehensive magnetic resonance imaging protocol

A method for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for characterizing tissue components and fluid compartments in brain, the method comprising:

• applying a magnetization transfer prepared Cones (MT-Cones) sequence to generate first magnetic resonance (MR) data, wherein the MT-Cones sequence comprises:
• an MT pulse, and
• one or more MT acquisition pulses, each MT acquisition pulse measuring data on a cone in k-space;
• applying a short-repetition-rate (short-TR) adiabatic inversion-recovery prepared Cones (STAIR-Cones) sequence to generate second MR data, wherein the STAIR-Cones sequence comprises:
• an Adiabatic Full Passage (AFP) pulse, and
• one or more STAIR acquisition pulses, each STAIR acquisition pulse measuring data on a cone in k-space;
• applying a highly T2-weighted Cones (T2w-Cones) sequence to generate third MR data, wherein the T2w-Cones sequence comprises:
• one or more magnetization reset pulses,
• one or more T2 preparation pulses,
• one or more radio frequency (RF) cycling pulses,
• one or more variable flip angle (VFA) pulses, and
• one or more T2w acquisition pulses, each T2w acquisition pulse measuring data on a cone in k-space;
• applying a proton-density weighted Cones (PDw-Cones) sequence to generate fourth MR data;
• and
• generating, using at least the first MR data, the second MR data, the third MR data, and the fourth MR data, one or more three-dimensional (3D) maps depicting tissue components and fluid compartments of the brain.