Widespread cortical thinning characterizes patients with MS with mild cognitive impairment

• DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0b013e3181cbcd03
• Publication Date: 2010-01-25T22:44:26Z
• Authors: M. Calabrese; F. Rinaldi; I. Mattisi; P. Grossi; A. Favaretto; M. Atzori; V. Bernardi; L. Barachino; C. Romualdi; L. Rinaldi; P. Perini; P. Gallo
• Keywords: Adult; Cerebral Cortex; Male; Analysis of Variance; Brain Mapping; Nerve Fibers, Unmyelinated; Adolescent; Middle Aged; Neuropsychological Tests; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Severity of Illness Index; 03 medical and health sciences; Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting; 0302 clinical medicine; Predictive Value of Tests; Multivariate Analysis; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Humans; Female; Atrophy; Cognition Disorders

<b>Background:</b> Although cognitive dysfunction affects a relevant portion of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), its pathologic substrate has not been clarified and it does seem entirely explained by white matter changes. <b>Methods:</b> A total 100 consecutive relapsing remitting MS (RRMS) 42 normal controls (NC) were enrolled in the study. Cognitive performance was assessed Rao9s Brief Repeatable Battery Neuropsychological Tests (BRB). Regional cortical thickness (CTh) evaluated Freesurfer. <b>Results:</b> Thirty-one RRMS failed 1 or 2 tests BRB considered to have mild impairment (mCI-RRMS), while 8 at least 3 classified as markedly impaired (sCI-RRMS). The mean CTh mCI-RRMS sCI-RRMS group significantly lower than NC (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.001) cognitively (CN-RRMS) 0.001). regional analysis revealed significant thinning frontal temporal regions (frontotemporal thinning) CN-RRMS compared NC, widespread pattern observed both NC. correlation between score (CS) (<i>r</i> = −0.69, <i>p</i> CS almost all areas analyzed value −0.20 −0.65, 0.01). found T2-WM-LV −0.31, 0.004) 0.21, 0.031). multivariate confirmed best predictor impairment. <b>Conclusions:</b> characterizes dysfunction, suggesting such expression more aggressive pathology.