Contributions
Abstract: EP1306
Type: ePoster
Abstract Category: Clinical aspects of MS - 3 Paediatric MS
Background: The association of physical activity (PA) on white matter (WM) integrity and cognition has yet to be fully described in pediatric-onset MS patients.
Objective: To determine whether level of self-reported strenuous PA is associated with WM integrity and cognitive efficiency (CE) in pediatric-onset MS patients.
Methods: Participants included 24 pediatric-onset MS patients (mean age=18.45±2.76yrs; mean disease duration=53.39±32.30mths) recruited from the Hospital for Sick Children (Toronto, Canada). Healthy age-/sex-matched controls (HCs) were recruited from the community (N=34). Participants completed a neuropsychological test battery from which a CE composite score was derived by averaging the z-scores of two processing speed tasks (i.e. Symbol Digit Modalities Test [SDMT] and WJ-III Decision Speed). Self-reported strenuous PA was calculated based on the frequency of strenuous PA engaged in for more than 15 minutes per week. WM integrity was evaluated via diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), using tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS). DTI metrics (FA, AD, and RD) were extracted for the entire WM matter skeleton, and 26 specific tracts. Groups were compared via independent samples t-tests on CE, PA, and WM integrity. Pearson partial correlations (two-tailed, adjusted for age; a=0.01) were conducted to examine the association between white matter integrity, CE, and self-reported strenuous PA.
Results: Patients had significantly reduced WM integrity relative to healthy controls in 21 of 26 interrogated tracts (p< .01). This was further exhibited by lower avg-FA, and higher avg-AD and avg-RD in the entire WM skeleton (p< .001). CE z-scores did not differ between MS and HC, and fell in the age-expected range. Mean self-reported strenuous PA did not differ between groups (MS:2.66x/week; HC:2.96x/week). CE did not associate with indices of WM integrity or self-reported strenuous PA in either group. Self-reported strenuous PA also did not associate with WM integrity.
Conclusion: DTI metrics are sensitive to disease pathology in pediatric-onset MS. This study did not confirm that WM integrity is associated with CE; however, this cohort of MS patients was relatively cognitively preserved. While no association between self-reported strenuous PA and WM was observed, future controlled studies evaluating exercise interventions are required to determine whether the integrity of WM can be favorably improved in MS patients and positively impact cognition.
Disclosure:
Elisea De Somma: Nothing to disclose
Nadine Akbar: Nothing to disclose
Ritobrato Datta: Nothing to disclose
Ann Yeh was on a scientific advisory panel for Juno Therapeutics. She has also received a speaker´s honorarium from Novartis in the past and performs relapse adjudication for ACI.
Brenda Banwell serves as a consultant to Novartis.
Christine Till: Nothing to disclose
Abstract: EP1306
Type: ePoster
Abstract Category: Clinical aspects of MS - 3 Paediatric MS
Background: The association of physical activity (PA) on white matter (WM) integrity and cognition has yet to be fully described in pediatric-onset MS patients.
Objective: To determine whether level of self-reported strenuous PA is associated with WM integrity and cognitive efficiency (CE) in pediatric-onset MS patients.
Methods: Participants included 24 pediatric-onset MS patients (mean age=18.45±2.76yrs; mean disease duration=53.39±32.30mths) recruited from the Hospital for Sick Children (Toronto, Canada). Healthy age-/sex-matched controls (HCs) were recruited from the community (N=34). Participants completed a neuropsychological test battery from which a CE composite score was derived by averaging the z-scores of two processing speed tasks (i.e. Symbol Digit Modalities Test [SDMT] and WJ-III Decision Speed). Self-reported strenuous PA was calculated based on the frequency of strenuous PA engaged in for more than 15 minutes per week. WM integrity was evaluated via diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), using tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS). DTI metrics (FA, AD, and RD) were extracted for the entire WM matter skeleton, and 26 specific tracts. Groups were compared via independent samples t-tests on CE, PA, and WM integrity. Pearson partial correlations (two-tailed, adjusted for age; a=0.01) were conducted to examine the association between white matter integrity, CE, and self-reported strenuous PA.
Results: Patients had significantly reduced WM integrity relative to healthy controls in 21 of 26 interrogated tracts (p< .01). This was further exhibited by lower avg-FA, and higher avg-AD and avg-RD in the entire WM skeleton (p< .001). CE z-scores did not differ between MS and HC, and fell in the age-expected range. Mean self-reported strenuous PA did not differ between groups (MS:2.66x/week; HC:2.96x/week). CE did not associate with indices of WM integrity or self-reported strenuous PA in either group. Self-reported strenuous PA also did not associate with WM integrity.
Conclusion: DTI metrics are sensitive to disease pathology in pediatric-onset MS. This study did not confirm that WM integrity is associated with CE; however, this cohort of MS patients was relatively cognitively preserved. While no association between self-reported strenuous PA and WM was observed, future controlled studies evaluating exercise interventions are required to determine whether the integrity of WM can be favorably improved in MS patients and positively impact cognition.
Disclosure:
Elisea De Somma: Nothing to disclose
Nadine Akbar: Nothing to disclose
Ritobrato Datta: Nothing to disclose
Ann Yeh was on a scientific advisory panel for Juno Therapeutics. She has also received a speaker´s honorarium from Novartis in the past and performs relapse adjudication for ACI.
Brenda Banwell serves as a consultant to Novartis.
Christine Till: Nothing to disclose