Second language learning induces grey matter volume increase in people with multiple sclerosis

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Neuroimaging
• Neurology

Background:

• Grey matter volume (GMV) decline is common in multiple sclerosis (MS).
• Second language (L2) learning increases GMV in language regions in healthy adults.
• The impact of L2 learning on brain plasticity in people with MS (pwMS) remains unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of an eight-week L2 training program on grey matter plasticity in pwMS.
• To assess changes in L2 proficiency and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in pwMS and healthy controls (HCs).
• To compare brain plasticity patterns between pwMS and HCs following L2 acquisition.

Main Methods:

• Prospective study involving 11 pwMS and 12 HCs.
• 3T-MRI was used to measure grey matter plasticity.
• L2 proficiency and HRQoL were assessed before and after the 8-week training period.

Main Results:

• PwMS showed reduced bilateral insula GMV at baseline.
• L2 training led to GMV increases in the hippocampus, parahippocampus, and putamen in pwMS, and the left insula in HCs.
• Both groups improved L2 skills; GMV increases in the hippocampus/parahippocampus correlated with vocabulary gains in pwMS, who also reported increased HRQoL.

Conclusions:

• L2 learning induces distinct patterns of GMV increases in language-related brain regions in pwMS and HCs.
• These findings suggest compensatory cortical and subcortical plasticity in pwMS to achieve L2 proficiency.
• L2 training offers a potential avenue for cognitive enhancement and improved quality of life in individuals with MS.