Contributions
Abstract: P1017
Type: Poster
Abstract Category: Pathology and pathogenesis of MS - Imaging
Background: The thalamus is affected early in multiple sclerosis (MS), and along with substantial atrophy, significant alterations in structural and functional connectivity with other brain regions have been observed. However, previous studies have looked at the thalamus as a whole, despite its heterogeneous composition of multiple, functionally distinct nuclei. Focusing individually on alterations in functional connectivity of these specific nuclei may therefore better elucidate their specific role in MS pathology and disability.
Objectives: To explore abnormalities in individual thalamic nuclei resting state (RS) functional connectivity (FC) patterns in MS patients.
Methods: Using predefined atlas-based thalamic nuclei maps (anterior, posterior, medial, and lateral), we examined individual nucleus FC in 64 MS patients and 26 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Whole-brain voxelwise statistical maps were quantified for within-group FC and between-group differences for each nucleus for each hemisphere. Data processing was carried out using AFNI and FSL. Cluster-level correction was performed for multiple comparisons (minimum Z>2.3; cluster significance: p < 0.05, corrected).
Results: FC was significantly _x0007_altered _x0008_in MS for the anterior, posterior, and medial thalamic nuclei, with different and _x0007_anatomically meaningful _x0008_changes for each nucleus. Compared with controls, MS patients showed decreased FC between the left medial nucleus and the left parietal areas of the default mode network (p< 0.046). The left posterior nucleus showed decreased FC with areas of the left parietal attentional network (p< 0.045). MS patients also show decreased right medial thalamic FC with the bilateral caudates (p< 0.015) and the left cerebellum (p< 0.045). Interestingly, MS patients showed increased anterior nucleus FC with the anterior cingulate cortex (p< 0._x0007_041_x0008_). Statistically significant FC alterations were not seen for the lateral nucleus.
Conclusions: Thalamic functional impairment in MS appears nucleus-specific. _x0007_Future study of the thalamus should take its heterogeneous nature into account, and should investigate nucleus-specific clinical and cognitive correlates of altered FC.
Disclosure:
uchun Lin, Jesper Hagemeier, Deepa Ramasamy, Sirin Gandhi, Dejan Jakimovski, and Niels Bergsland have nothing to disclose.
Robert Zivadinov received personal compensation from Teva Pharmaceuticals, Biogen Idec, EMD Serono, Genzyme-Sanofi, Claret Medical, IMS Health and Novartis for speaking and consultant fees. He received financial support for research activities from Teva Pharmaceuticals, Genzyme-Sanofi, Novartis, Claret Medical, Intekrin and IMS Health.
Bianca Weinstock- Guttman has participated in speaker´s bureaus and served as a consultant for Biogen Idec, Teva Neuroscience, EMD Serono, Novartis, Genzyme & Sanofi, Mylan Inc., and Acorda Therapeutics, Inc. Dr. Weinstock-Guttman also has received grant/research support from the agencies listed in the previous sentence as well as Questcor Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Shire. She serves in the editorial board for BMC Neurology, Journal of International MS, Journal of Multiple Sclerosis.
Hanneke E. Hulst has received consulting fees from Novartis, Teva, Merck, and Genzyme.
Ralph H. B. Benedict has received research support from Accorda, Novartis, Genzyme, Biogen Idec, and Questcor Pharmaceuticals, and is on the speakers" bureau for EMD Serono (designing CME courses), and consults for Biogen Idec, Genentech, and Novartis. Dr. Benedict also receives royalties for Psychological Assessment Resources.
Michael G Dwyer received personal compensation from Novartis and Claret Medical for speaking and consultant fees. He received financial support for research activities from Novartis.
Abstract: P1017
Type: Poster
Abstract Category: Pathology and pathogenesis of MS - Imaging
Background: The thalamus is affected early in multiple sclerosis (MS), and along with substantial atrophy, significant alterations in structural and functional connectivity with other brain regions have been observed. However, previous studies have looked at the thalamus as a whole, despite its heterogeneous composition of multiple, functionally distinct nuclei. Focusing individually on alterations in functional connectivity of these specific nuclei may therefore better elucidate their specific role in MS pathology and disability.
Objectives: To explore abnormalities in individual thalamic nuclei resting state (RS) functional connectivity (FC) patterns in MS patients.
Methods: Using predefined atlas-based thalamic nuclei maps (anterior, posterior, medial, and lateral), we examined individual nucleus FC in 64 MS patients and 26 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Whole-brain voxelwise statistical maps were quantified for within-group FC and between-group differences for each nucleus for each hemisphere. Data processing was carried out using AFNI and FSL. Cluster-level correction was performed for multiple comparisons (minimum Z>2.3; cluster significance: p < 0.05, corrected).
Results: FC was significantly _x0007_altered _x0008_in MS for the anterior, posterior, and medial thalamic nuclei, with different and _x0007_anatomically meaningful _x0008_changes for each nucleus. Compared with controls, MS patients showed decreased FC between the left medial nucleus and the left parietal areas of the default mode network (p< 0.046). The left posterior nucleus showed decreased FC with areas of the left parietal attentional network (p< 0.045). MS patients also show decreased right medial thalamic FC with the bilateral caudates (p< 0.015) and the left cerebellum (p< 0.045). Interestingly, MS patients showed increased anterior nucleus FC with the anterior cingulate cortex (p< 0._x0007_041_x0008_). Statistically significant FC alterations were not seen for the lateral nucleus.
Conclusions: Thalamic functional impairment in MS appears nucleus-specific. _x0007_Future study of the thalamus should take its heterogeneous nature into account, and should investigate nucleus-specific clinical and cognitive correlates of altered FC.
Disclosure:
uchun Lin, Jesper Hagemeier, Deepa Ramasamy, Sirin Gandhi, Dejan Jakimovski, and Niels Bergsland have nothing to disclose.
Robert Zivadinov received personal compensation from Teva Pharmaceuticals, Biogen Idec, EMD Serono, Genzyme-Sanofi, Claret Medical, IMS Health and Novartis for speaking and consultant fees. He received financial support for research activities from Teva Pharmaceuticals, Genzyme-Sanofi, Novartis, Claret Medical, Intekrin and IMS Health.
Bianca Weinstock- Guttman has participated in speaker´s bureaus and served as a consultant for Biogen Idec, Teva Neuroscience, EMD Serono, Novartis, Genzyme & Sanofi, Mylan Inc., and Acorda Therapeutics, Inc. Dr. Weinstock-Guttman also has received grant/research support from the agencies listed in the previous sentence as well as Questcor Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Shire. She serves in the editorial board for BMC Neurology, Journal of International MS, Journal of Multiple Sclerosis.
Hanneke E. Hulst has received consulting fees from Novartis, Teva, Merck, and Genzyme.
Ralph H. B. Benedict has received research support from Accorda, Novartis, Genzyme, Biogen Idec, and Questcor Pharmaceuticals, and is on the speakers" bureau for EMD Serono (designing CME courses), and consults for Biogen Idec, Genentech, and Novartis. Dr. Benedict also receives royalties for Psychological Assessment Resources.
Michael G Dwyer received personal compensation from Novartis and Claret Medical for speaking and consultant fees. He received financial support for research activities from Novartis.