The relationship between Central Nervous System morphometry changes and key symptoms in Crohn's disease

Area of Science:

• Neuroimaging
• Gastroenterology
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Previous studies on Crohn's disease (CD) and brain morphometry are inconsistent, often excluding active disease.
• Brain structural changes in CD may be linked to disease burden, symptoms like fatigue and pain, and extraintestinal manifestations (EIMs).

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate brain morphometry alterations in active CD and remission patients.
• To explore relationships between brain structure and CD symptoms (fatigue, abdominal pain) and EIMs.

Main Methods:

• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans analyzed using Voxel-Based Morphometry (VBM) and surface-based analysis.
• Studied 89 participants: 34 active CD, 13 CD in remission, and 42 healthy controls (HCs).
• Assessed grey matter volume (GMV), white matter volume (WMV), and cortical thickness (CT).

Main Results:

• CD patients exhibited reduced global cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) volume compared to HCs.
• Significant reductions in regional GMV, WMV, and CT were observed in the left precentral gyrus (motor cortex) in CD patients.
• Increased GMV in frontal regions and supplementary motor area (SMA) atrophy associated with fatigue were noted in CD patients.
• Brain structural alterations correlated with abdominal pain and EIMs in CD.

Conclusions:

• Brain structural changes in CD patients reflect neuroplasticity in response to chronic inflammation, pain, EIMs, and fatigue.
• Findings enhance understanding of the link between chronic inflammation, brain structure, and unexplained CD symptoms.
• This research provides insights into the complex interplay between systemic inflammation and neurological changes in Crohn's disease.