Contributions
Abstract: EP1519
Type: Poster Sessions
Abstract Category: Pathology and pathogenesis of MS - MRI and PET
Introduction: Impairment in Social Cognition has been showed in multiple sclerosis (MS). Theory of mind (ToM), a proxy of Social Cognition, is the ability to understand and interpret another person´s beliefs, intentions (cognitive ToM) and emotions (affective ToM). In particular, ToM impairment in MS has been related to focal gray matter atrophy and microstructural white matter damage. To date no studies have explored functional connectivity (FC) changes related to social cognition in MS.
Objectives: To assess the contribution of resting-state FC (RS-FC) changes of the default mode network (DMN) to social cognition impairment.
Methods: Forty-one relapsing remitting (RR) MS patients and 25 sex, age and education-matched healthy controls (HC) were evaluated by a neurological examination and tasks assessing cognitive (the ToM Pictures Sequencing Task) and affective (the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Task) ToM. All subjects underwent a 3T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) protocol including structural and RS-fMRI (RS-fMRI) sequences. FC of the DMN was evaluated by independent component analysis (ICA).
Results: MS patients performed worse on ToM, compared to HC. Compared to HC, RRMS patient showed a reduction of FC in posterior cingulate cortex (PCC). In MS patients, performance on “cognitive” ToM tasks was negatively correlated to PCC FC. All detected RS-FC changes did not co-localize with regional gray matter atrophy.
Conclusions: ToM performance in MS is associated to significant DMN-FC changes in MS. Further research is warranted to clarify the adaptive or maladaptive role of this FC changes in MS.
Disclosure: Renato Docimo: nothing to disclose.
Alvino Bisecco: has received speakers honoraria and/or compensation for consulting service from Biogen, Merck and Genzyme.
Gabriella Santangelo: nothing to disclose.
Federica Di Nardo: nothing to disclose.
Manuela Altieri: nothing to disclose.
Rocco Capuano: nothing to disclose.
Simona Pappacena: nothing to disclose.
Alessandro d´Ambrosio: nothing to disclose.
Simona Bonavita: received speakers honoraria from Biogen Idec, Novartis, and Merck-Serono.
Mario Cirillo: nothing to disclose.
Fabrizio Esposito: nothing to disclose.
Gioacchino Tedeschi: has received compensation for consulting services and/or speaking activities from Bayer Schering Pharma, Biogen Idec, Merck Serono, and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries; and receives research support from Biogen Idec, Merck Serono, and Fondazione Italiana Sclerosi Multipla.
Antonio Gallo: received honoraria for speaking and travel grants from Biogen, Sanofi-Aventis, Merck Serono, Genzyme, Teva, Bayer-Schering and Novartis.
Abstract: EP1519
Type: Poster Sessions
Abstract Category: Pathology and pathogenesis of MS - MRI and PET
Introduction: Impairment in Social Cognition has been showed in multiple sclerosis (MS). Theory of mind (ToM), a proxy of Social Cognition, is the ability to understand and interpret another person´s beliefs, intentions (cognitive ToM) and emotions (affective ToM). In particular, ToM impairment in MS has been related to focal gray matter atrophy and microstructural white matter damage. To date no studies have explored functional connectivity (FC) changes related to social cognition in MS.
Objectives: To assess the contribution of resting-state FC (RS-FC) changes of the default mode network (DMN) to social cognition impairment.
Methods: Forty-one relapsing remitting (RR) MS patients and 25 sex, age and education-matched healthy controls (HC) were evaluated by a neurological examination and tasks assessing cognitive (the ToM Pictures Sequencing Task) and affective (the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Task) ToM. All subjects underwent a 3T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) protocol including structural and RS-fMRI (RS-fMRI) sequences. FC of the DMN was evaluated by independent component analysis (ICA).
Results: MS patients performed worse on ToM, compared to HC. Compared to HC, RRMS patient showed a reduction of FC in posterior cingulate cortex (PCC). In MS patients, performance on “cognitive” ToM tasks was negatively correlated to PCC FC. All detected RS-FC changes did not co-localize with regional gray matter atrophy.
Conclusions: ToM performance in MS is associated to significant DMN-FC changes in MS. Further research is warranted to clarify the adaptive or maladaptive role of this FC changes in MS.
Disclosure: Renato Docimo: nothing to disclose.
Alvino Bisecco: has received speakers honoraria and/or compensation for consulting service from Biogen, Merck and Genzyme.
Gabriella Santangelo: nothing to disclose.
Federica Di Nardo: nothing to disclose.
Manuela Altieri: nothing to disclose.
Rocco Capuano: nothing to disclose.
Simona Pappacena: nothing to disclose.
Alessandro d´Ambrosio: nothing to disclose.
Simona Bonavita: received speakers honoraria from Biogen Idec, Novartis, and Merck-Serono.
Mario Cirillo: nothing to disclose.
Fabrizio Esposito: nothing to disclose.
Gioacchino Tedeschi: has received compensation for consulting services and/or speaking activities from Bayer Schering Pharma, Biogen Idec, Merck Serono, and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries; and receives research support from Biogen Idec, Merck Serono, and Fondazione Italiana Sclerosi Multipla.
Antonio Gallo: received honoraria for speaking and travel grants from Biogen, Sanofi-Aventis, Merck Serono, Genzyme, Teva, Bayer-Schering and Novartis.