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Structural abnormalities in early Tourette syndrome children: a combined voxel-based morphometry and tract-based
Yue Liu1, Wen Miao, Jieqiong Wang
1Department of Radiology, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China ; Beijing key Lab of Magnetic Imaging Device and Technique, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
Plos One
|October 8, 2013
Summary
Tourette Syndrome (TS) in children shows brain volume changes and white matter alterations. These neuroimaging findings correlate with tic severity and duration, suggesting potential biomarkers for early diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Neuroscience
- Radiology
Background:
- Tourette Syndrome (TS) involves chronic motor and vocal tics starting in childhood.
- Previous studies noted gray (GM) and white matter (WM) abnormalities in adult TS patients' cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical circuits and sensory-motor cortex.
- It remains unclear if these morphological changes are present in children with TS and if WM microstructural changes occur.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate volumetric GM and WM changes in children with TS using VBM.
- To assess microstructural WM changes in TS children using DTI.
- To correlate these neuroimaging findings with tic severity and duration.
Main Methods:
- Structural T1 images and Diffusion Tensor Images (DTI) were acquired from 21 TS children and 20 age/gender-matched healthy controls using a 1.5T Philips scanner.
- Voxel-Based Morphometry (VBM) with DARTEL and Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM) analyzed T1 images.
- Tract-Based Spatial Statistics (TBSS) was used for DTI analysis.
Main Results:
- Brain volume changes were identified in specific regions including the left superior temporal gyrus, bilateral paracentral gyri, and right pre/post-central gyri.
- Increased axial diffusivity (AD) and mean diffusivity (MD) were observed in the anterior thalamic radiation, right cingulum bundle, and forceps minor.
- Decreased white matter volume (WMV) in the right frontal pole inversely correlated with tic severity (YGTSS).
- Increased AD and MD positively correlated with tic severity and duration, respectively.
Conclusions:
- Morphological and microstructural brain changes are present in children with Tourette Syndrome.
- These findings suggest neural plasticity in response to experiential demands in TS.
- Structural MRI and DTI measurements may serve as potential biomarkers for the pathophysiology of early TS in children.
