Contribution of Gray Matter Atrophy and White Matter Damage to Cognitive Impairment in Mildly Disabled Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis Patients
Por:
Bernabeu-Sanz, A, Morales, S, Naranjo, V and Sempere, A
Publicada:
1 mar 2021
Ahead of Print:
23 mar 2021
Resumen:
Cognitive impairment (CI) is frequently present in multiple sclerosis
patients. Despite ongoing research, the neurological substrates have not
been fully elucidated. In this study we investigated the contribution of
gray and white matter in the CI observed in mildly disabled
relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients. For that
purpose, 30 patients with RRMS (median EDSS = 2), and 30 age- and
sex-matched healthy controls were studied. CI was assessed using the
symbol digit modalities test (SDMT) and the memory alteration test.
Brain magnetic resonance imaging, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI),
voxel-based morphometry (VBM), brain segmentation, thalamic vertex
analysis, and connectivity-based thalamic parcellation analyses were
performed. RRMS patients scored significantly lower in both cognitive
tests. In the patient group, significant atrophy in the thalami was
observed. Multiple regression analyses revealed associations between
SDMT scores and GM volume in both hemispheres in the temporal, parietal,
frontal, and occipital lobes. The DTI results pointed to white matter
damage in all thalamocortical connections, the corpus callosum, and
several fasciculi. Multiple regression and correlation analyses
suggested that in RRMS patients with mild disease, thalamic atrophy and
thalamocortical connection damage may lead to slower cognitive
processing. Furthermore, white matter damage at specific fasciculi may
be related to episodic memory impairment.
gold, Green Published
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