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Updated: Jun 19, 2026
Measuring Progressive Neurological Disability in a Mouse Model of Multiple Sclerosis
Published on: November 14, 2016
Longitudinal investigation of neuroimaging changes related to memory decline in multiple sclerosis: Testing a
Leila Simani1, Ceren Tozlu2, Seonjoo Lee3
1Cognitive Neuroscience Division, Department of Neurology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
Background:
Memory decline is common in multiple sclerosis (MS), although pathophysiological mechanisms are not fully understood.
Objective:
The objective was to investigate the relationship of changes in structural and functional neuroimaging markers to memory decline over 3-year follow-up.
Methods:
Participants with MS underwent cognitive evaluation and structural, diffusion, and functional 3T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans at baseline and 3-year follow-up. Changes in neuroimaging metrics from baseline to follow-up were compared between memory stable and memory decline groups. Our hypothesis that structural and functional connectivity changes mediate the association of atrophy to memory decline was tested.
Results:
A total of 249 MS patients completed baseline visit; 169 (67.8%) returned at 3-year follow-up. Based on ⩾10% decline, memory decline was observed in 44.4% (n = 75). Those with memory decline showed marginally greater whole-brain volume loss over time compared with those with stable memory performance (p = 0.08). In those with memory decline, changes in white matter tract integrity were related to regional cortical thinning (p < 0.01). Exploratory mediation analysis revealed structural and functional connectivity to mediate the relationship of atrophy to verbal and visual memory decline.
Conclusion:
Further work is needed to characterize complex interrelationships of atrophy and structural/functional connectivity changes to memory decline in MS.
