Supplementary motor area connectivity and dual-task walking variability in multiple sclerosis

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Multiple sclerosis (MS) commonly causes dual-task deficits, such as impaired walking while talking.
• No prior neuroimaging studies have investigated brain networks or specific areas involved in dual-task processing in MS patients.
• Understanding these brain-behavior relationships can inform targeted rehabilitation strategies for MS.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the relationship between neuroimaging findings and clinical measures of dual-task performance in individuals with MS.
• To investigate the association between neuroimaging data, dual-task performance, and fall history in MS.
• To identify potential neuroimaging biomarkers for dual-task impairment in MS.

Main Methods:

• Participants with relapsing-remitting MS underwent neuroimaging using a 3 Tesla MRI scanner.
• Measures included dual-task performance assessments, fall history, and structural imaging.
• Spearman correlations were employed to analyze relationships between clinical and neuroimaging variables.

Main Results:

• Eighteen female participants with relapsing-remitting MS were included.
• Structural imaging revealed a significant correlation between supplementary motor area (SMA) interhemispheric connectivity and dual-task walking variability.
• No other significant correlations were reported in the abstract.

Conclusions:

• The interhemispheric tract of the SMA appears to be involved in dual-task execution in MS.
• Structural neuroimaging can complement clinical assessments for predicting performance and recovery patterns in MS.
• Diffusion tensor imaging may offer objective insights into microstructural improvements and enhanced connectivity, aiding functional recovery assessment in MS.