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NIRS Studies Show Reduced Interhemispheric Functional Connectivity in Individuals with Multiple Sclerosis That
Ateyeh Soroush1,2,3,4, Damilola D Adingupu1,2,3,4, Taelor Evans1,2,3,4
1Hotchkiss Brain Institute (HBI), University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.
Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology
|December 17, 2022
Summary
Low oxygen levels (hypoxia) in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients are linked to reduced brain functional connectivity (FC). Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) may serve as a biomarker for MS functional impairment.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Medical Imaging
- Neurology
Background:
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) is often associated with reduced cortical microvascular oxygen levels (hypoxia).
- Hypoxia's impact on brain function in MS remains largely unexplored.
- Existing research suggests hypoxia may worsen MS-related inflammation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between hypoxia and brain functional connectivity (FC) in individuals with MS.
- To determine if hypoxic MS patients exhibit altered FC compared to normoxic MS patients.
- To explore the potential of functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) as a biomarker for functional impairment in MS.
Main Methods:
- Recruited 20 participants with MS, divided into normoxic and hypoxic groups (n=10 each).
- Utilized frequency-domain near-infrared spectroscopy (fdNIRS) to assess cortical microvascular oxygen levels.
- Measured brain functional connectivity (FC) using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) during resting-state, finger-tapping, and neurocognitive tasks.
Main Results:
- The hypoxic MS group demonstrated significantly reduced functional connectivity (FC) compared to the normoxic group.
- fNIRS-quantified haemodynamic signal coherence served as a marker for brain function.
- Findings suggest a correlation between hypoxia and impaired brain function in MS.
Conclusions:
- Hypoxia is associated with reduced brain functional connectivity in individuals with multiple sclerosis.
- fNIRS measures of haemodynamic coherence show promise as a biomarker for functional impairment and disease progression in MS.
- Further research is warranted to elucidate the mechanisms linking hypoxia and brain dysfunction in MS.
