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Updated: Mar 11, 2026
Automated Segmentation of Cortical Grey Matter from T1-Weighted MRI Images
Published on: January 7, 2019
Analysis of ageing-associated grey matter volume in patients with multiple sclerosis shows excess atrophy in
Courtney A Bishop1, Rexford D Newbould1, Jean Sz Lee2
1Imanova Centre for Imaging Sciences, London, UK.
Abstract:
Age of onset in multiple sclerosis (MS) exerts an influence on the course of disease. This study examined whether global and regional brain volumes differed between "younger" and "older" onset MS subjects who were matched for short disease duration, mean 1.9 years and burden as measured by the MS Severity Score and relapses. 21 younger-onset MS subjects (age 30.4 ± 3.2 years) were compared with 17 older-onset (age 48.7 ± 3.3 years) as well as age-matched controls (n = 31, 31.9 ± 3.5 years and n = 21, 47.3 ± 4.0 years). All subjects underwent 3D volumetric T1 and T2-FLAIR imaging. White matter (WM) and grey matter (GM) lesions were outlined manually. Lesions were filled prior to tissue and structural segmentation to reduce classification errors. Volume loss versus control was predominantly in the subcortical GM, at > 13% loss. Younger and older-onset MS subjects had similar, strong excess loss in the putamen, thalamus, and nucleus accumbens. No excess loss was detected in the amygdala or pallidum. The hippocampus and caudate showed significant excess loss in the younger group (p < 0.001) and a strong trend in the older-onset group. These results provide a potential imaging correlate of published neuropsychological studies that reported the association of younger age at disease onset with impaired cognitive performance, including decreased working memory.
Insights
Younger and older onset multiple sclerosis (MS) patients show significant grey matter volume loss, particularly in subcortical regions. This brain atrophy pattern may correlate with cognitive deficits observed in early-onset MS.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Neurology
- Radiology
Background:
- Age of onset in multiple sclerosis (MS) influences disease progression.
- Understanding brain volume changes associated with different onset ages is crucial for predicting disease course and cognitive outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate differences in global and regional brain volumes between younger and older onset MS patients.
- To compare brain volumes in MS patients with age-matched healthy controls, considering disease duration and severity.
Main Methods:
- Utilized 3D volumetric T1 and T2-FLAIR imaging for all participants.
- Manually outlined and filled white matter (WM) and grey matter (GM) lesions before segmentation.
- Compared brain volumes between younger MS (onset ≤30 yrs), older MS (onset ≥45 yrs), and age-matched control groups.
Main Results:
- Both younger and older MS groups exhibited significant grey matter volume loss (>13%) compared to controls, predominantly in subcortical regions.
- Excess volume loss was observed in the putamen, thalamus, and nucleus accumbens in both MS onset groups.
- The hippocampus and caudate showed significant excess loss in the younger MS group and a trend in the older MS group.
Conclusions:
- Early age of onset in MS is associated with distinct patterns of subcortical grey matter atrophy.
- These imaging findings may provide a biological basis for the cognitive impairments, such as working memory deficits, reported in younger-onset MS patients.
