Cerebellar atrophy and its contribution to motor and cognitive performance in multiple system atrophy

Neuroanatomical differences in the cerebellum are among the most consistent findings in multiple system atrophy (MSA) patients. This study performed a detailed cerebellar morphology in MSA patients and its two subtypes: MSA-P (parkinson's symptoms predominate) and MSA-C (cerebellar symptoms predominant), and their relations to profiles of motor and cognitive deficits.

Structure MRI data were acquired from 63 healthy controls and 61 MSA patients; voxel-based morphometry and the Spatially Unbiased Infratentorial Toolbox cerebellar atlas were performed to identify the cerebellar gray volume changes in MSA and its subtypes. Further, the gray matter changes were correlated with the clinical motor/cognitive scores.

Patients with MSA exhibited widespread loss of cerebellar volume bilaterally, relative to healthy controls. In those with MSA-C, gray matter loss was detected from anterior (bilateral lobule IV-V) to posterior (bilateral crus I/II, bilateral lobule IX, left lobule VIII) cerebellar lobes. Lower anterior cerebellar volume negatively correlated with disease duration and motor performance, whereas posterior lobe integrity positively correlated with cognitive assessment. In patients with MSA-P, atrophy of anterior lobe (bilateral lobules IV-V) and posterior lobe in part (left lobule VI, bilateral IX) was evident; and in left cerebellar lobule IX, gray matter loss negatively correlated with motor scores. Direct comparison of MSA-P and MSA-C group outcomes showed divergence in right cerebellar crus II only.

Our data suggest that volumetric abnormalities of cerebellum contribute substantially to motor and cognitive performance in patients with MSA. In patients with MSA-P and MSA-C, affected regions of cerebellum differed.