Cognitive impairment and magnetic resonance imaging correlates in primary progressive multiple sclerosis

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2017

Authors

Gouveia, A (Author) Other; Dias, SP (Author) Other; Santos, T (Author) Other; Rocha, H (Author) Other; Coelho, CR (Author) Other; Ruano, L (Author) Other; Galego, O (Author) Other; Diogo, MC (Author) Other; Seixas, D (Author) Other; Sa, MJ (Author) Other; Batista, S (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Acta Neurologica Scandinavica

Vol. 136

Pages: 109-115

ISSN: 0001-6314

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 9 Citations

Scopus - 10 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00R-AP3

DOI: 10.1111/ane.12702

Abstract (EN): ObjectivesTo characterize cognitive impairment in primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) and to correlate the pattern of cognitive deficits with brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) volumetric data. Materials and methodsIn a multicenter cross-sectional study, we recruited consecutive patients with PPMS as well as age, sex, and education level-matched healthy controls (HC). All participants underwent neuropsychological (NP) assessment, and brain MRI was performed in patients with PPMS for analysis of lesion load, subcortical GM volumes, and regional cortical volumes. ResultsWe recruited 55 patients with PPMS and 36 HC. Thirty-six patients were included in the MRI analysis. Patients with PPMS performed significantly worse than HC in all NP tests. Subcortical GM volume was significantly correlated with all NP tests, except for Stroop Test, with the largest effect for the thalamus (r=-.516 [BVMT-R DR, P=.016 FDR-corrected] to r=.664 [SDMT, P<.001 FDR-corrected]). In the stepwise linear regression model, thalamic volume was the only predictor of performance in all NP tests. ConclusionCognitive impairment is common in PPMS and affects all evaluated cognitive domains. Subcortical GM volume, particularly of the thalamus, is a strong predictor of cognitive performance, suggesting it has a central role in the pathophysiology of PPMS-related cognitive dysfunction.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 7