Document Type
Article
Publication Title
Neuroimage Clin
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Prior research has established a link between thalamic pathology and cognitive impairment (CI) in people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS). However, the translation of these findings to pwMS in everyday clinical settings has been insufficient.
OBJECTIVE: To assess which global and/or thalamic imaging biomarkers can be used to identify pwMS at risk for CI and cognitive worsening (CW) in a real-world setting.
METHODS: This was an international, multi-center (11 centers), longitudinal, retrospective, real-word study of people with relapsing-remitting MS (pwRRMS). Brain MRI exams acquired at baseline and follow-up were collected. Cognitive status was evaluated using the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT). Thalamic volume (TV) measurement was performed on T2-FLAIR, as well as on T1-WI, when available. Thalamic dysconnectivity, T2-lesion volume (T2-LV), and volumes of gray matter (GM), whole brain (WB) and lateral ventricles (LVV) were also assessed.
RESULTS: 332 pwMS were followed for an average of 2.8 years. At baseline, T2-LV, LVV, TV and thalamic dysconnectivity on T2-FLAIR (p < 0.016), and WB, GM and TV volumes on T1-WI (p < 0.039) were significantly worse in 90 (27.1 %) CI vs. 242 (62.9 %) non-CI pwRRMS. Greater SDMT decline over the follow-up was associated with lower baseline TV on T2-FLAIR (standardized β = 0.203, p = 0.002) and greater thalamic dysconnectivity (standardized β = -0.14, p = 0.028) in a linear regression model.
CONCLUSIONS: PwRRMS with thalamic atrophy and worse thalamic dysconnectivity present more frequently with CI and experience greater CW over mid-term follow-up in a real-world setting.
First Page
103609
Last Page
103609
DOI
10.1016/j.nicl.2024.103609
Publication Date
1-1-2024
Recommended Citation
Zivadinov, Robert; Bergsland, Niels; Jakimovski, Dejan; Weinstock-Guttman, Bianca; Lorefice, Lorena; Schoonheim, Menno M; Morrow, Sarah A; Ann Picone, Mary; Pardo, Gabriel; Zarif, Myassar; Gudesblatt, Mark; Nicholas, Jacqueline A; Smith, Andrew; Hunter, Samuel; Newman, Stephen; AbdelRazek, Mahmoud A; Hoti, Ina; Riolo, Jon; Silva, Diego; Fuchs, Tom A; Dwyer, Michael G; and Hb Benedict, Ralph, "Thalamic atrophy and dysconnectivity are associated with cognitive impairment in a multi-center, clinical routine, real-word study of people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis." (2024). Neuroscience Articles. 41.
https://scholarlyworks.ohiohealth.com/neuroscience-articles/41