Second language learning induces grey matter volume increase in people with multiple sclerosis

Abstract

BackgroundGrey matter volume (GMV) decline is a frequent finding in multiple sclerosis (MS), the most common chronic neurological disease in young adults. Increases of GMV were detected in language related brain regions following second language (L2) learning in healthy adults. Effects of L2 learning in people with MS (pwMS) have not been investigated so far.MethodsThis study prospectively evaluated the potential of an eight-week L2 training on grey matter plasticity measured by 3T-MRI, L2 proficiency and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in people with relapsing-remitting MS (pwMS, n = 11) and healthy, sex- and age-matched controls (HCs; n = 12).ResultsCategorical voxel-based analysis revealed significantly less GMV bilaterally of the insula extending to the temporal pole in pwMS at baseline. Following L2 training, significant increases of GMV were evident in the right hippocampus, parahippocampus and putamen of pwMS and in the left insula of HCs. L2 training resulted in significant improvements of listening comprehension, speaking fluency and vocabulary knowledge in both pwMS and HCs. GMV increases of right hippocampus and parahippocampus significantly correlated with vocabulary knowledge gain and L2 learning was associated with a significant increase of HRQoL in pwMS.ConclusionOur findings demonstrate distinct patterns of GMV increases of language related brain regions in pwMS and HCs and indicate disease-related compensatory cortical and subcortical plasticity to acquire L2 proficiency in pwMS.

Predicting clinical progression and cognitive decline in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: a 6-year follow-up study

“…This is in line with previous studies, where cortical thickness, grey matter and deep grey matter atrophy have been associated with cognitive impairment [7,19,20]. On the other hand, grey matter volume has increased in MS patients who have learnt a second language, which is suggestive of the efficacy of cognitive rehabilitation [21]. Matias-Guiu et al [22] reported that semantic fluency results correlated with thalamus and caudate volumes in both hemispheres, while Crosson et al [23] revealed that both left and right basal ganglia play a role in language generation.…”

Histological Study on the Thickness of Gray Matter at the Summit and Bottom of Folium in Different Age Groups of Bangladeshi People

“…Additionally, in earlier studies, an extensive decline in the bulk of GM has been noticed in frontal, insular, and cingulate cortices associated with both sexes [ 56 ]. Multiple studies revealed that the cerebellar cortex width and sulcus depth are indicators of the progression of several neurological disorders such as Parkinson's disease, AD, multiple sclerosis, and dementia-related issues [ 57 - 60 ]. GM breadth and width reveal that the mean overall volume affects the structure and function of the cerebellum and medulla spinalis in many ways, indicating how the cerebellum is vital in memory, gait control, urine control, and thinking processes [ 4 , 61 , 62 ].…”

Qualitative and Quantitative Comparison of Hippocampal Volumetric Software Applications: Do All Roads Lead to Rome?

“…FS has been additionally applied in our clinic for many years during diagnostic work up of patients with memory deficits. FS and SPM have been extensively used at our center in various studies, and therefore a profound knowledge of these programs is present in our team [ 23 , 24 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 ]). Quantib™ was chosen as an example of a commercially available software program and was provided to us during a trial period.…”