University of Sussex
Browse

File(s) not publicly available

White matter tract abnormalities are associated with cognitive dysfunction in secondary progressive multiple sclerosis

journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-09, 00:48 authored by Kim A Meijer, Nils Muhlert, Mara Cercignani, Varun Sethi, Maria A Ron, Alan J Thompson, David H Miller, Declan Chard, Jeroen J G Geurts, Olga Ciccarelli
BACKGROUND While our knowledge of white matter (WM) pathology underlying cognitive impairment in relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) is increasing, equivalent understanding in those with secondary progressive (SP) MS lags behind. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study is to examine whether the extent and severity of WM tract damage differ between cognitively impaired (CI) and cognitively preserved (CP) secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) patients. METHODS Conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and diffusion MRI were acquired from 30 SPMS patients and 32 healthy controls (HC). Cognitive domains commonly affected in MS patients were assessed. Linear regression was used to predict cognition. Diffusion measures were compared between groups using tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS). RESULTS A total of 12 patients were classified as CI, and processing speed was the most commonly affected domain. The final regression model including demographic variables and radial diffusivity explained the greatest variance of cognitive performance (R(2)?=?0.48, p?=?0.002). SPMS patients showed widespread loss of WM integrity throughout the WM skeleton when compared with HC. When compared with CP patients, CI patients showed more extensive and severe damage of several WM tracts, including the fornix, superior longitudinal fasciculus and forceps major. CONCLUSION Loss of WM integrity assessed using TBSS helps to explain cognitive decline in SPMS patients.

History

Publication status

  • Published

Journal

Multiple Sclerosis

ISSN

1352-4585

Publisher

SAGE Publications

Issue

11

Volume

22

Page range

1429-1437

Department affiliated with

  • BSMS Neuroscience Publications

Full text available

  • No

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2016-07-14

Usage metrics

    University of Sussex (Publications)

    Categories

    Exports

    RefWorks
    BibTeX
    Ref. manager
    Endnote
    DataCite
    NLM
    DC