Access to brain MRI can be challenging, especially for underserved patients, which may lead to disparities in neurological diagnosis and subsequent treatment.

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 (01/2021-08/2025) and underwent a point-of-care, low-field portable MRI using a 0.064 Tesla scanner (Hyperfine) performed by trained non-physician research staff, along with pre- and post-scan surveys. For comparison, all participants received a standard brain MRI (1.5 Tesla). The Barriers to Care Scale, originally developed for people with HIV, was modified to assess challenges unique to individuals with neurological disorders.

Of 130 participants (53% 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 (IQR 113-26). Participants rated pMRI as 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 positioning in the scanner but broadly supported the acceptability and potential uses of pMRI.

These findings broadly support the feasibility, tolerability, and patient acceptability of implementing pMRI in outpatient settings for people with neurological disorders.