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Claustrum Volume Is Reduced in Multiple Sclerosis and Predicts Disability.
Nicole Shelley1, Bradley Judge1, Dmitriy A Yablonskiy2
1Department of Neurology, Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis, Missouri, USA.
Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology
|March 13, 2025
Summary
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is associated with reduced claustrum volume, impacting neurological disability. Claustrum atrophy may be a key factor in MS-related disability progression.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Neurology
- Medical Research
Background:
- The claustrum, a gray matter structure, has broad connectivity but its function and role in multiple sclerosis (MS) are poorly understood.
- Pathology of the claustrum in MS is an understudied area.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether claustrum volume is reduced in individuals with MS.
- To determine if claustrum volume reductions correlate with specific neurological disability domains.
- To compare the impact of claustrum volume loss to thalamic volume loss in MS.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of data from 15,793 participants in the MS PATHS study for primary findings.
- Validation using a separate cohort of 71 individuals with MS and healthy controls.
- Assessment of claustrum and thalamic volumes and their association with disability measures.
Main Results:
- Both claustrum and thalamic volumes showed similar reductions across different types of MS.
- Reduced claustrum volume, similar to thalamic volume, was linked to impairments in walking speed, upper extremity function, and cognition.
- Claustrum volume emerged as a stronger predictor of future disability progression compared to thalamic volume.
Conclusions:
- Atrophy of the claustrum is a significant factor contributing to neurological disability in multiple sclerosis.
- Claustrum pathology should be considered an important component of MS-related disability.
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