Correlations between hippocampal functional connectivity, structural changes, and clinical data in patients with...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Radiology
• Neurology

Background:

• Multiple sclerosis (MS) is characterized by brain structural and functional alterations, often leading to cognitive impairments.
• The hippocampus, crucial for memory, is affected early in MS, showing microstructural changes.
• Cognitive deficits in MS patients span attention, memory, and information processing speed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate hippocampal function and structure in relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) patients.
• To explore correlations between hippocampal functional connectivity, local brain function/microstructure, and cognitive status at rest.
• To analyze the relationship between these neuroimaging findings and clinical disability.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 20 RRMS patients and 16 healthy controls.
• Utilized diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).
• Assessed cognitive function using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and disability with the Extended Disability Status Scale (EDSS).

Main Results:

• RRMS patients exhibited lower MoCA scores and altered hippocampal functional connectivity compared to controls.
• DTI revealed reduced fractional anisotropy and increased mean diffusivity in the hippocampus of RRMS patients, indicating structural abnormalities.
• Hippocampal functional connectivity and microstructural integrity (mean diffusivity) significantly correlated with MoCA scores and EDSS scores.

Conclusions:

• Hippocampal structural abnormalities and altered functional connectivity are present in RRMS patients.
• These hippocampal changes are associated with the degree of cognitive impairment and clinical disability in MS.
• Neuroimaging of the hippocampus may offer insights into MS-related cognitive dysfunction and progression.