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Updated: Dec 9, 2025
Diffusion Tensor Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Analysis of Neurodegenerative Diseases
Published on: July 28, 2013
Structural and functional brain connectome in motor neuron diseases: A multicenter MRI study
Silvia Basaia1, Federica Agosta1, Camilla Cividini1
1From the Neuroimaging Research Unit, Institute of Experimental Neurology, Division of Neuroscience, (S.B., F.A., C.C., E.G.S., V.C., E.C., M.F.), Neurorehabilitation Unit (N.R.), Neurology Unit (Y.F., M.F.), Neurophysiology Unit (M.F.), and Department of Neuroradiology and CERMAC (A.F.), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute; Vita-Salute San Raffaele University (F.A., C.C., E.G.S., V.C., Y.F., A.F., M.F.), Milan; Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences (F.T., C.F., M.R.M., G.T.), University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli," Naples; and ALS Center (C.M., A.C.), "Rita Levi Montalcini" Department of Neuroscience, University of Torino, Italy.
Advanced MRI reveals widespread brain network degeneration in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and primary lateral sclerosis (PLS), offering new diagnostic and prognostic markers for these motor neuron diseases.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Medical Imaging
- Neurology
Background:
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), primary lateral sclerosis (PLS), and progressive muscular atrophy (PMA) are distinct motor neuron diseases with overlapping yet unique pathological pathways.
- Understanding the neural underpinnings and network alterations in these conditions is crucial for accurate diagnosis and prognosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the structural and functional neural organization in patients with ALS, PLS, and PMA using advanced neuroimaging techniques.
- To explore the relationship between brain network alterations and clinical/cognitive deficits in these motor neuron diseases.
Main Methods:
- A multicenter study involving 173 ALS, 38 PLS, 28 PMA patients, and 79 healthy controls.
- Utilized brain MRI with graph analysis and connectomics to assess global and regional structural and functional brain connectivity.
- Correlated network properties with clinical, neuropsychological, and cognitive data.
Main Results:
- ALS and PLS patients exhibited altered structural network properties and decreased connectivity in sensorimotor, basal ganglia, frontal, and parietal areas.
- PMA patients showed preserved global structural networks.
- Functional connectivity alterations were observed in ALS and PLS, correlating with executive dysfunction and behavioral disturbances, while structural changes correlated with motor impairment.
Conclusions:
- Widespread motor and extramotor network degeneration is evident in ALS and PLS.
- Graph analysis and connectomics are powerful tools for detecting upper motor neuron degeneration and extramotor brain changes.
- Network-based MRI offers objective in vivo assessment for motor neuron diseases, potentially yielding prognostic markers.
