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A multicentre study of motor functional connectivity changes in patients with multiple sclerosis
Paola Valsasina1, Maria A Rocca, Martina Absinta
1Division of Neuroscience, Neuroimaging Research Unit, Institute of Experimental Neurology, Scientific Institute and University Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy.
The European Journal of Neuroscience
|March 8, 2011
Summary
Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) show altered functional connectivity (FC) in sensorimotor networks, with increased bihemispheric brain contributions during motor tasks. This suggests potential for fMRI-based biomarkers in MS treatment studies.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Medical Imaging
- Neurology
Background:
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating disease affecting the central nervous system.
- Understanding sensorimotor network alterations in MS is crucial for developing effective therapies.
- Functional connectivity (FC) studies using fMRI offer insights into brain network dynamics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the spatial pattern of functional connectivity (FC) in the sensorimotor network of MS patients.
- To compare FC patterns between MS patients and healthy controls during a motor task.
- To explore the potential of fMRI-based FC as an imaging biomarker for MS.
Main Methods:
- A multicentre study involving 61 MS patients and 74 healthy controls.
- Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used during a simple motor task.
- Voxel-wise correlations and region of interest (ROI) analyses were employed to assess FC.
Main Results:
- Both groups exhibited significant FC within the sensorimotor network.
- MS patients showed increased FC between the left sensorimotor cortex (SMC) and specific brain regions (e.g., right precentral gyrus, right middle frontal gyrus).
- ROI analysis revealed widespread altered connectivity in MS patients, including increased FC involving the right middle frontal gyrus and left insula.
Conclusions:
- MS patients exhibit increased bihemispheric contributions to motor control compared to healthy individuals.
- Multicentre fMRI studies for FC changes in MS are feasible.
- Altered FC patterns may serve as a potential imaging biomarker for therapeutic studies in MS.
