Quantitative vibratory sensation measurement is related to sensory cortical thickness in MS

Abstract

Objective Vibratory sensation is a quantifiable measure of physical dysfunction and is often related to spinal cord pathology; however, its association with relevant brain areas has not been fully explored. Our objective was to establish a cortical structural substrate for vibration sensation. Methods Eighty‐four individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) (n = 54 relapsing, n = 30 progressive) and 28 controls participated in vibratory sensation threshold quantification at the great toe and a 3T MRI evaluating volume of the thalamus and cortical thickness primary and secondary sensory cortices. Results After controlling for age, sex, and disability level, vibratory sensation thresholds were significantly related to cortical thickness of the anterior cingulate (P = 0.041), parietal operculum (P = 0.022), and inferior frontal gyrus pars operculum (P = 0.044), pars orbitalis (P = 0.007), and pars triangularis (P = 0.029). Within the progressive disease subtype, there were significant relationships between vibratory sensation and thalamic volume (P = 0.039) as well as reduced inferior frontal gyrus pars operculum (P = 0.014) and pars orbitalis (P = 0.005) cortical thickness. Conclusions The data show significant independent relationships between quantitative vibratory sensation and measures of primary and secondary sensory cortices. Quantitative clinical measurement of vibratory sensation reflects pathological changes in spatially distinct brain areas and may supplement information captured by brain atrophy measures. Without overt relapses, monitoring decline in progressive forms of MS has proved challenging; quantitative clinical assessment may provide a tool to examine pathological decline in this cohort. These data suggest that quantitative clinical assessment may be a reliable way to examine pathological decline and have broader relevance to progressive forms of MS.

Brain and cervical spinal cord MRI correlates of sensorimotor impairment in patients with multiple sclerosis

“…Thalamic volume was previously found to explain VDT but only in PMS patients. 34 Disappointingly, the R 2 of our statistical model was quite low. However, this aligns with those of other studies that evaluated clinical outcomes as continuous instead of dichotomous variables.…”

Combining Magnetization Transfer Ratio MRI and Quantitative Measures of Walking Improves the Identification of Fallers in MS

“…Our lab has shown that the Vibratron II is a reliable and objective way to accurately assess sensory function in MS [27]. Further, our recent findings indicate that quantitative vibratory sensation is associated with sensory cortical thickness and thalamic volume in MS [53].…”

Cerebellar volume measures may differentiate multiple sclerosis fallers from non-fallers

“…Our hypothesis was con rmed SDMT was signi cantly correlated with volumes of lobule VI (p < 0.001) and crus I (p = 0.017), but not with lobule VIIB and crus II (Table 2). In addition, we correlated motor lobules with the motor measures, and found signi cant correlations between the TUG, T25FW, walk velocity, summed strength, SSST, and vibration sensation with lobules I-III, and balance to both lobules I-III and V. Measures such as the TUG and SSST require great balance demands and are complex motor tasks which require input from higher cognitive areas [56], while vibration is used as a proxy measure for proprioception [34]. Other studies have shown the lobules I-III of the cerebellum having a greater in uence on sensorimotor representations [17], whereas SSST demonstrates increased demand on coordination, balance, and ease of movement [30].…”

“…Sensation was quanti ed bilaterally at the great toe using a Vibratron II device (Physitemp, Huron, NJ, USA). The Vibratron provides reliable and objective quantitative measures of vibratory sensation in PwMS [29] and may be used as a proxy measure for proprioception [34]. Participants identi ed which of two rods was vibrating, and the threshold [35] from the worse toe was calculated and used for data analysis.…”