Objectively measured sedentary behavior and brain volumetric measurements in multiple sclerosis

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Neuroscience
• Radiology

Background:

• Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurological disease affecting the central nervous system.
• Sedentary behavior is increasingly recognized as a potential factor influencing disease progression and brain health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between sedentary behavior patterns and brain structure in individuals with MS.
• To assess associations with whole brain gray matter (GM), white matter (WM), and subcortical GM volumes.

Main Methods:

• 36 participants with MS were enrolled in the study.
• Participants wore accelerometers to quantify sedentary behavior patterns.
• Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to measure brain volumes.

Main Results:

• A significant negative association was found between the number of sedentary bouts per day and brain volume measures (p < 0.01).
• This association was consistent across whole brain GM, WM, and deep GM structures.
• Moderate to large effect sizes were observed, indicating a meaningful relationship.

Conclusions:

• Sedentary behavior patterns are associated with decreased brain volume in persons with MS.
• This finding provides novel evidence linking inactivity to structural brain changes in this population.
• Further research is warranted to explore the implications for MS management and interventions.