Contributions
Abstract: P1885
Type: Poster
Abstract Category: Late breaking news
Background: Cognitive dysfunction, including short-term memory loss (STML), is a well-documented symptom already in the early stages of multiple sclerosis (MS). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) measures, such as mean diffusivity (MD) have been previously used to assess pathological brain anatomy in effort to explain cognitive decline. Free-water imaging is a recent diffusion MRI framework that estimates the fraction of extracellular free-water (FW) in each voxel. This parameter is showing promise in improved detection of neuro-degeneration and inflammation in various brain disorders, and may thus also improve the explanatory power of MRI on cognition in MS.
Objectives: In this work we aim to assess the relationship between STML and FW estimates in a sample of recently diagnosed MS patients.
Methods: 51 patients were available from the ongoing Norwegian BICAMS research project; with complete (a) brain diffusion MRI and (b) neurocognitive tests including the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), California Verbal Learning Test, 2nd Ed. (CVLT) and the Brief Visuospatial Test (BVMT). The sample comprised 33 women and 18 men; mean age was 38.6 ± 11.9 years; all had < 2 years since diagnosis, and < 3 years since first symptoms. Mean Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) was 1.40 ± 1.23.
The diffusion measures (FW and MD) were estimated from multi-shell diffusion data (b={6x0, 50, ..., 2500}, #gradients=69) collected on a 3T scanner (Magnetom Prisma, Siemens Healthineers); preprocessed in FSL for eddy current corrections, and automatic tissue segmentation (CSF/WM/GM) was performed based on the average b0 images in each patient.
Results: The BVMT scores in WM correlated both with FW (r = -0.54, p = 0.00004) and with MD
(r = -0.37, p = 0.007). EDSS was not significantly correlated with mean WM diffusion metrics.
Conclusion: In this recently diagnosed sample of MS patients we observe that FW and MD estimates correlate and predict cognitive performance. This finding may thus represent a step towards improved assessment of early cognitive dysfunction by MRI.
Disclosure:
- Ø. Bergmann reports no disclosures.
- E. Skorve reports no disclosures.
- R. Grüner reports no disclosures.
- AJ. Lundervold reports no disclosures.
- O. Pasternak reports no disclosures.
- KM. Myhr has received research support, speaker honoraria or served on the scientific advisory board for Almirall, Biogen, Genzyme, Novartis Norway, Roche or Teva.
Abstract: P1885
Type: Poster
Abstract Category: Late breaking news
Background: Cognitive dysfunction, including short-term memory loss (STML), is a well-documented symptom already in the early stages of multiple sclerosis (MS). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) measures, such as mean diffusivity (MD) have been previously used to assess pathological brain anatomy in effort to explain cognitive decline. Free-water imaging is a recent diffusion MRI framework that estimates the fraction of extracellular free-water (FW) in each voxel. This parameter is showing promise in improved detection of neuro-degeneration and inflammation in various brain disorders, and may thus also improve the explanatory power of MRI on cognition in MS.
Objectives: In this work we aim to assess the relationship between STML and FW estimates in a sample of recently diagnosed MS patients.
Methods: 51 patients were available from the ongoing Norwegian BICAMS research project; with complete (a) brain diffusion MRI and (b) neurocognitive tests including the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), California Verbal Learning Test, 2nd Ed. (CVLT) and the Brief Visuospatial Test (BVMT). The sample comprised 33 women and 18 men; mean age was 38.6 ± 11.9 years; all had < 2 years since diagnosis, and < 3 years since first symptoms. Mean Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) was 1.40 ± 1.23.
The diffusion measures (FW and MD) were estimated from multi-shell diffusion data (b={6x0, 50, ..., 2500}, #gradients=69) collected on a 3T scanner (Magnetom Prisma, Siemens Healthineers); preprocessed in FSL for eddy current corrections, and automatic tissue segmentation (CSF/WM/GM) was performed based on the average b0 images in each patient.
Results: The BVMT scores in WM correlated both with FW (r = -0.54, p = 0.00004) and with MD
(r = -0.37, p = 0.007). EDSS was not significantly correlated with mean WM diffusion metrics.
Conclusion: In this recently diagnosed sample of MS patients we observe that FW and MD estimates correlate and predict cognitive performance. This finding may thus represent a step towards improved assessment of early cognitive dysfunction by MRI.
Disclosure:
- Ø. Bergmann reports no disclosures.
- E. Skorve reports no disclosures.
- R. Grüner reports no disclosures.
- AJ. Lundervold reports no disclosures.
- O. Pasternak reports no disclosures.
- KM. Myhr has received research support, speaker honoraria or served on the scientific advisory board for Almirall, Biogen, Genzyme, Novartis Norway, Roche or Teva.