Abstract: The present invention provides a method for determining whether an individual has a central nervous system disease or injury comprising: obtaining a T2 measurement for at least one brain tissue sample from an individual; determining if the T2 measurement indicates the presence of a central nervous system disease or injury in the individual. The present invention also provides a method for determining whether an individual has a central nervous system disease or injury comprising: obtaining a first T2 measurement using an MRI technique for a brain tissue sample from an individual at a first time; obtaining a second T2 measurement using an MRI technique for the brain tissue sample from the individual at a second time; and comparing the second T2 measurement to the first T2 measurement.