Contributions
Abstract: P542
Type: Poster
Abstract Category: Pathology and pathogenesis of MS - Imaging
Background: Despite the well-known importance of the thalamus in MS, only limited data on whole and sub-regional thalamic functional connectivity (FC) are available.
Aims: To investigate sub-regional thalamic resting state (RS) FC in MS patients and to correlate RS FC abnormalities with clinical/cognitive measures.
Methods: Diffusion tensor (DT), 3D-T1 weighted and RS functional MRI data were acquired from 200 right-handed MS patients and 100 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HC). MS patients were clinically and cognitively evaluated. DT MRI data were used to parcellate the thalamus into five sub-regions, according to their structural connectivity profile (frontal, motor, post-central, occipital and temporal regions). For each sub-region, a seed based RS FC analysis was performed. Multiple regression models were run to assess correlations of thalamic FC with clinical/cognitive variables.
Results: Both in MS patients and HC, each thalamic sub-region RS FC map resembled structural connections with cortical areas. Compared to HC, MS patients had a higher intra and inter thalamic RS FC in most thalamic sub-regions. Conversely, the temporal thalamic sub-region showed reduced intra-thalamic RS FC and higher RS FC with frontal and hippocampal areas. Compared to cognitively preserved, cognitively impaired MS patients had lower RS FC between thalamic sub-regions and caudate nucleus, anterior cingulate cortex and supplementary motor area, as well as higher RS FC between the thalamic temporal sub-region, inferior frontal areas and para-hippocampal gyrus. This latter finding was correlated with poor motor and cognitive performance. Conversely, higher RS FC between thalamic sub-regions and caudate and cingulate cortex was correlated with better motor and cognitive performance.
Conclusions: In MS patients, the different behaviour of temporal thalamic sub-region, compared to other thalamic sub-regions, could contribute explaining the high variability of thalamic RS FC findings in previous studies. Except for the temporal sub-region, MS patients had higher intra- and inter-thalamic RS FC. The increased RS FC between temporal thalamic sub-region and temporal/frontal regions seen in MS patients compared to HC, as well as in cognitively impaired compared to preserved MS patients is likely to be a maladaptive mechanism, associated with clinical/cognitive impairment.
Partially supported by grants from FISM 2011/R/19 and Italian Ministry of Health (GR-2009-1529671).
Disclosure:
Drs d´Ambrosio, Hidalgo, Valsasina, Pagani, Colombo, Rodegher, and Falini have nothing to disclose.
Prof. Comi has received consulting fees for participating on advisory boards from Novartis, Teva Pharmaceutical Ind. Ltd, Sanofi, Genzyme, Merck Serono, Bayer, Actelion and honorarium for speaking activities for Novartis, Teva Pharmaceutical Ind. Ltd, Sanofi, Genzyme, Merck Serono, Bayer, Biogen, Excemed.
Prof. Filippi is Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Neurology; serves on scientific advisory boards for Teva Pharmaceutical Industries; has received compensation for consulting services and/or speaking activities from Biogen Idec, Excemed, Novartis, and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries; and receives research support from Biogen Idec, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, Novartis, Italian Ministry of Health, Fondazione Italiana Sclerosi Multipla, Cure PSP, Alzheimer´s Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF), the Jacques and Gloria Gossweiler Foundation (Switzerland), and ARiSLA (Fondazione Italiana di Ricerca per la SLA).
Dr Rocca received speakers honoraria from Biogen Idec, Novartis and ExceMed and receives research support from the Italian Ministry of Health and Fondazione Italiana Sclerosi Multipla.
Abstract: P542
Type: Poster
Abstract Category: Pathology and pathogenesis of MS - Imaging
Background: Despite the well-known importance of the thalamus in MS, only limited data on whole and sub-regional thalamic functional connectivity (FC) are available.
Aims: To investigate sub-regional thalamic resting state (RS) FC in MS patients and to correlate RS FC abnormalities with clinical/cognitive measures.
Methods: Diffusion tensor (DT), 3D-T1 weighted and RS functional MRI data were acquired from 200 right-handed MS patients and 100 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HC). MS patients were clinically and cognitively evaluated. DT MRI data were used to parcellate the thalamus into five sub-regions, according to their structural connectivity profile (frontal, motor, post-central, occipital and temporal regions). For each sub-region, a seed based RS FC analysis was performed. Multiple regression models were run to assess correlations of thalamic FC with clinical/cognitive variables.
Results: Both in MS patients and HC, each thalamic sub-region RS FC map resembled structural connections with cortical areas. Compared to HC, MS patients had a higher intra and inter thalamic RS FC in most thalamic sub-regions. Conversely, the temporal thalamic sub-region showed reduced intra-thalamic RS FC and higher RS FC with frontal and hippocampal areas. Compared to cognitively preserved, cognitively impaired MS patients had lower RS FC between thalamic sub-regions and caudate nucleus, anterior cingulate cortex and supplementary motor area, as well as higher RS FC between the thalamic temporal sub-region, inferior frontal areas and para-hippocampal gyrus. This latter finding was correlated with poor motor and cognitive performance. Conversely, higher RS FC between thalamic sub-regions and caudate and cingulate cortex was correlated with better motor and cognitive performance.
Conclusions: In MS patients, the different behaviour of temporal thalamic sub-region, compared to other thalamic sub-regions, could contribute explaining the high variability of thalamic RS FC findings in previous studies. Except for the temporal sub-region, MS patients had higher intra- and inter-thalamic RS FC. The increased RS FC between temporal thalamic sub-region and temporal/frontal regions seen in MS patients compared to HC, as well as in cognitively impaired compared to preserved MS patients is likely to be a maladaptive mechanism, associated with clinical/cognitive impairment.
Partially supported by grants from FISM 2011/R/19 and Italian Ministry of Health (GR-2009-1529671).
Disclosure:
Drs d´Ambrosio, Hidalgo, Valsasina, Pagani, Colombo, Rodegher, and Falini have nothing to disclose.
Prof. Comi has received consulting fees for participating on advisory boards from Novartis, Teva Pharmaceutical Ind. Ltd, Sanofi, Genzyme, Merck Serono, Bayer, Actelion and honorarium for speaking activities for Novartis, Teva Pharmaceutical Ind. Ltd, Sanofi, Genzyme, Merck Serono, Bayer, Biogen, Excemed.
Prof. Filippi is Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Neurology; serves on scientific advisory boards for Teva Pharmaceutical Industries; has received compensation for consulting services and/or speaking activities from Biogen Idec, Excemed, Novartis, and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries; and receives research support from Biogen Idec, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, Novartis, Italian Ministry of Health, Fondazione Italiana Sclerosi Multipla, Cure PSP, Alzheimer´s Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF), the Jacques and Gloria Gossweiler Foundation (Switzerland), and ARiSLA (Fondazione Italiana di Ricerca per la SLA).
Dr Rocca received speakers honoraria from Biogen Idec, Novartis and ExceMed and receives research support from the Italian Ministry of Health and Fondazione Italiana Sclerosi Multipla.