Improvement of the thalamocortical white matter network in people with stable treated relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis over time.
NMR Biomed
; 37(6): e5119, 2024 Jun.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38383137
ABSTRACT
Advanced imaging techniques (tractography) enable the mapping of white matter (WM) pathways and the understanding of brain connectivity patterns. We combined tractography with a network-based approach to examine WM microstructure on a network level in people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (pw-RRMS) and healthy controls (HCs) over 2 years. Seventy-six pw-RRMS matched with 43 HCs underwent clinical assessments and 3T MRI scans at baseline (BL) and 2-year follow-up (2-YFU). Probabilistic tractography was performed, accounting for the effect of lesions, producing connectomes of 25 million streamlines. Network differences in fibre density across pw-RRMS and HCs at BL and 2-YFU were quantified using network-based statistics (NBS). Longitudinal network differences in fibre density were quantified using NBS in pw-RRMS, and were tested for correlations with disability, cognition and fatigue scores. Widespread network reductions in fibre density were found in pw-RRMS compared with HCs at BL in cortical regions, with more reductions detected at 2-YFU. Pw-RRMS had reduced fibre density at BL in the thalamocortical network compared to 2-YFU. This effect appeared after correction for age, was robust across different thresholds, and did not correlate with lesion volume or disease duration. Pw-RRMS demonstrated a robust and long-distance improvement in the thalamocortical WM network, regardless of age, disease burden, duration or therapy, suggesting a potential locus of neuroplasticity in MS. This network's role over the disease's lifespan and its potential implications in prognosis and treatment warrants further investigation.
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Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Tálamo
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Córtex Cerebral
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Esclerose Múltipla Recidivante-Remitente
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Substância Branca
Limite:
Adult
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Female
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Humans
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Male
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Middle aged
Idioma:
En
Revista:
NMR Biomed
Assunto da revista:
DIAGNOSTICO POR IMAGEM
/
MEDICINA NUCLEAR
Ano de publicação:
2024
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Austrália