Dataset Information

Disruption of structural and functional networks in long-standing multiple sclerosis.

ABSTRACT: Both gray matter atrophy and disruption of functional networks are important predictors for physical disability and cognitive impairment in multiple sclerosis (MS), yet their relationship is poorly understood. Graph theory provides a modality invariant framework to analyze patterns of gray matter morphology and functional coactivation. We investigated, how gray matter and functional networks were affected within the same MS sample and examined their interrelationship. Magnetic resonance imaging and magnetoencephalography (MEG) were performed in 102 MS patients and 42 healthy controls. Gray matter networks were computed at the group-level based on cortical thickness correlations between 78 regions across subjects. MEG functional networks were computed at the subject level based on the phase-lag index between time-series of regions in source-space. In MS patients, we found a more regular network organization for structural covariance networks and for functional networks in the theta band, whereas we found a more random network organization for functional networks in the alpha2 band. Correlation analysis revealed a positive association between covariation in thickness and functional connectivity in especially the theta band in MS patients, and these results could not be explained by simple regional gray matter thickness measurements. This study is a first multimodal graph analysis in a sample of MS patients, and our results suggest that a disruption of gray matter network topology is important to understand alterations in functional connectivity in MS as regional gray matter fails to take into account the inherent connectivity structure of the brain.

SUBMITTER: Tewarie P

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6869798 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Disruption of structural and functional networks in long-standing multiple sclerosis.

Tewarie Prejaas P Steenwijk Martijn D MD Tijms Betty M BM Daams Marita M Balk Lisanne J LJ Stam Cornelis J CJ Uitdehaag Bernard M J BM Polman Chris H CH Geurts Jeroen J G JJ Barkhof Frederik F Pouwels Petra J W PJ Vrenken Hugo H Hillebrand Arjan A

Human brain mapping 20140722 12

Both gray matter atrophy and disruption of functional networks are important predictors for physical disability and cognitive impairment in multiple sclerosis (MS), yet their relationship is poorly understood. Graph theory provides a modality invariant framework to analyze patterns of gray matter morphology and functional coactivation. We investigated, how gray matter and functional networks were affected within the same MS sample and examined their interrelationship. Magnetic resonance imaging ...[more]

PMID: 25053254

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Project description:BackgroundFatigue is a common experience among persons diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). Fatigue negatively influences quality of life, interferes with activities of daily living, and impairs the ability to maintain gainful employment. Mechanisms underlying the pathophysiologic determinants of fatigue in MS are poorly understood, and effective treatments to manage fatigue present a challenge. Although the use of pharmacologic therapies is recommended to treat symptomatic fatigue, undertreatment of fatigue is common. Better long-term management and symptomatic relief may be provided by the use of nonpharmacologic treatments such as increased physical activity, energy conservation, and cognitive behavioral therapy.MethodsThe purpose of this study was to explore the physical, cognitive, and psychosocial dimensions of fatigue impact among persons with long-standing MS-defined here as having been diagnosed with MS for 17 years or more. A sample of 331 participants with MS completed surveys measuring fatigue impact, MS-related functional limitation, depressive symptoms, barriers to health promotion, personal resources, and health promoting behaviors.ResultsMS-related functional limitation and depressive symptoms were the strongest predictors of fatigue impact. MS-related functional limitation explained the greatest amount of variance in models predicting physical and psychosocial fatigue impact, whereas depressive symptoms explained the most variance in models predicting total and cognitive fatigue impact. Barriers to health promotion explained the least amount of variance among the models. Personal resources and health promoting behaviors were not significant predictors of fatigue impact in this study.ConclusionInterventions aimed at reducing MS-related functional limitations, depressive symptoms, and barriers to health promotion may have beneficial influences on fatigue impact, whereas actions designed to promote personal resource adequacy as well as engagement in health promoting behaviors may not translate into improvements in fatigue impact in persons with MS.

Project description:BackgroundReduced white matter (WM) integrity is a fundamental aspect of pediatric multiple sclerosis (MS), though relations to resting-state functional MRI (fMRI) connectivity remain unknown. The objective of this study was to relate diffusion-tensor imaging (DTI) measures of WM microstructural integrity to resting-state network (RSN) functional connectivity in pediatric-onset MS to test the hypothesis that abnormalities in RSN reflects changes in structural integrity.MethodsThis study enrolled 19 patients with pediatric-onset MS (mean age = 19, range 13-24 years, 14 female, mean disease duration = 65 months, mean age of disease onset = 13 years) and 16 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HC). All subjects underwent 3.0T anatomical and functional MRI which included DTI and resting-state acquisitions. DTI processing was performed using Tract-Based Spatial Statistics (TBSS). RSNs were identified using Independent Components Analysis, and a dual regression technique was used to detect between-group differences in the functional connectivity of RSNs. Correlations were investigated between DTI measures and RSN connectivity.ResultsLower fractional anisotropy (FA) was observed in the pediatric-onset MS group compared to HC group within the entire WM skeleton, and particularly the corpus callosum, posterior thalamic radiation, corona radiata and sagittal stratum (all p < .01, corrected). Relative to HCs, MS patients showed higher functional connectivity involving the anterior cingulate cortex and right precuneus of the default-mode network, as well as involving the anterior cingulate cortex and left middle frontal gyrus of the frontoparietal network (all p < .005 uncorrected, k?30 voxels). Higher functional connectivity of the right precuneus within the default-mode network was associated with lower FA of the entire WM skeleton (r = -.525, p = .02), genu of the corpus callosum (r = -.553, p = .014), and left (r = -.467, p = .044) and right (r = -.615, p = .005) sagittal stratum.ConclusionsLoss of WM microstructural integrity is associated with increased resting-state functional connectivity in pediatric MS, which may reflect a diffuse and potentially compensatory activation early in MS.

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Disruption of structural and functional networks in long-standing multiple sclerosis.

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Disruption of structural and functional networks in long-standing multiple sclerosis.

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