Microstructural changes in the striatum and their impact on motor and neuropsychological performance in patients with multiple sclerosis

Michele Cavallari; Antonia Ceccarelli; Guang-Yi Wang; Nicola Moscufo; Salem Hannoun; Christina R Matulis; Jonathan S Jackson; Bonnie I Glanz; Rohit Bakshi; Mohit Neema; Charles R G Guttmann

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0101199

Back

Microstructural changes in the striatum and their impact on motor and neuropsychological performance in patients with multiple sclerosis

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Microstructural changes in the striatum and their impact on motor and neuropsychological performance in patients with multiple sclerosis

Michele Cavallari, Antonia Ceccarelli, Guang-Yi Wang, Nicola Moscufo, Salem Hannoun, Christina R Matulis, Jonathan S Jackson, Bonnie I Glanz, Rohit Bakshi, Mohit Neema, …

PloS one, Vol.9(7), pp.e101199-e101199

07/21/2014

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0101199

PMCID: PMC4105540

PMID: 25047083

Files and links (1)

url

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0101199View

Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

Grey matter (GM) damage is a clinically relevant feature of multiple sclerosis (MS) that has been previously assessed with diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Fractional anisotropy (FA) of the basal ganglia and thalamus might be increased in MS patients, and correlates with disability scores. Despite the established role of the striatum and thalamus in motor control, mood and cognition, the impact of DTI changes within these structures on motor and neuropsychological performance has not yet been specifically addressed in MS. We investigated DTI metrics of deep GM nuclei and their potential association with mobility and neuropsychological function. DTI metrics from 3T MRI were assessed in the caudate, putamen, and thalamus of 30 MS patients and 10 controls. Sixteen of the patients underwent neuropsychological testing. FA of the caudate and putamen was higher in MS patients compared to controls. Caudate FA correlated with Expanded Disability Status Scale score, Ambulation Index, and severity of depressive symptomatology. Putamen and thalamus FA correlated with deficits in memory tests. In contrast, cerebral white matter (WM) lesion burden showed no significant correlation with any of the disability, mobility and psychometric parameters. Our findings support evidence of FA changes in the basal ganglia in MS patients, as well as deep GM involvement in disabling features of MS, including mobility and cognitive impairment. Deep GM FA appears to be a more sensitive correlate of disability than WM lesion burden.

Adult

Brain - pathology

Corpus Striatum - pathology

Diffusion Tensor Imaging

Female

Gray Matter - pathology

Humans

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Male

Middle Aged

Multiple Sclerosis - pathology

Neuropsychological Tests

Details

Title: Subtitle: Microstructural changes in the striatum and their impact on motor and neuropsychological performance in patients with multiple sclerosis
Creators: Michele Cavallari - Brigham and Women's Hospital
Antonia Ceccarelli - Brigham and Women's Hospital
Guang-Yi Wang
Nicola Moscufo - Brigham and Women's Hospital
Salem Hannoun - Observatoire Français de la Sclérose en Plaques
Christina R Matulis - Brigham and Women's Hospital
Jonathan S Jackson - Brigham and Women's Hospital
Bonnie I Glanz - Brigham and Women's Hospital
Rohit Bakshi - Brigham and Women's Hospital
Mohit Neema - Brigham and Women's Hospital
Charles R G Guttmann - Brigham and Women's Hospital
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: PloS one, Vol.9(7), pp.e101199-e101199
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0101199
PMID: 25047083
PMCID: PMC4105540
ISSN: 1932-6203
eISSN: 1932-6203
Grant note: 2R01AG22092-06A / NIA NIH HHS R01 AG022092 / NIA NIH HHS
Language: English
Date published: 07/21/2014
Academic Unit: Psychiatry
Record Identifier: 9984627312602771

Metrics

5 Record Views

30 Times Cited - Web of Science