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Functional connectivity changes within specific networks parallel the clinical evolution of multiple sclerosis

journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-08, 21:09 authored by B Basile, M Castelli, F Monteleone, U Nocentini, C Caltagirone, D Centonze, Mara Cercignani, Marco Bozzali
BACKGROUND In multiple sclerosis (MS), the location of focal lesions does not always correlate with clinical symptoms, suggesting disconnection as a major pathophysiological mechanism. Resting-state (RS) functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is believed to reflect brain functional connectivity (FC) within specific neuronal networks. OBJECTIVE RS-fMRI was used to investigate changes in FC within two critical networks for the understanding of MS disabilities, namely, the sensory-motor network (SMN) and the default-mode network (DMN), respectively, implicated in sensory-motor and cognitive functions. METHODS Thirty-four relapsing-remitting (RR), 14 secondary progressive (SP) MS patients and 25 healthy controls underwent MRI at 3T, including conventional images, T1-weighted volumes, and RS-fMRI sequences. Independent component analysis (ICA) was employed to extract maps of the relevant RS networks for every participant. Group analyses were performed to assess changes in FC within the SMN and DMN in the two MS phenotypes. RESULTS Increased FC was found in both networks of MS patients. Interestingly, specific changes in either direction were observed also between RR and SP MS groups. CONCLUSIONS FC changes seem to parallel patients' clinical state and capability of compensating for the severity of clinical/cognitive disabilities.

History

Publication status

  • Published

Journal

Multiple Sclerosis

ISSN

1352-4585

Publisher

Sage Publishing

Issue

8

Volume

20

Page range

1050-1057

Department affiliated with

  • BSMS Neuroscience Publications

Full text available

  • No

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2015-11-27

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