White matter tracts that overlap with the thalamus and the putamen are protected against multiple sclerosis pathology

Clarke, Mitch; Archer, Derek B.; Yoon, Keejin; Oguz, Ipek; Smith, Seth A.; Xu, Junzhong; Cutter, Gary; Bagnato, Francesca

doi:10.1016/j.msard.2021.103430

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 31 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Quantitative MRI studies show lower magnetization transfer ratio values and higher relative uptake of [ 18 F]-DPA714 TSPO in areas located closer to the ventricles relative to voxels further away ( 45 , 46 ). Our previous findings assessing differences between a total of 49 TC and CS tracts also showed that the latter ones tend to have larger lesion volumes, lower the ODI and NDI, and the higher IVF, highlighting once again the different venerability to disease between different groups of tracts ( 47 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 70%

Transcallosal and Corticospinal White Matter Disease and Its Association With Motor Impairment in Multiple Sclerosis

et al. 2022

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

PurposeIn this cross-sectional, proof-of-concept study, we propose that using the more pathologically-specific neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI) method, in conjunction with high-resolution probabilistic tractography, white matter tract templates can improve the assessment of regional axonal injury and its association with disability of people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS).MethodsParametric maps of the neurite density index, orientation dispersion index, and the apparent isotropic volume fraction (IVF) were estimated in 18 pwMS and nine matched healthy controls (HCs). Tract-specific values were measured in transcallosal (TC) fibers from the paracentral lobules and TC and corticospinal fibers from the ventral and dorsal premotor areas, presupplementary and supplementary motor areas, and primary motor cortex. The nonparametric Mann–Whitney U test assessed group differences in the NODDI-derived metrics; the Spearman's rank correlation analyses measured associations between the NODDI metrics and other clinical or radiological variables.ResultsIVF values of the TC fiber bundles from the paracentral, presupplementary, and supplementary motor areas were both higher in pwMS than in HCs (p ≤ 0.045) and in pwMS with motor disability compared to those without motor disability (p ≤ 0.049). IVF in several TC tracts was associated with the Expanded Disability Status Scale score (p ≤ 0.047), while regional and overall lesion burden correlated with the Timed 25-Foot Walking Test (p ≤ 0.049).ConclusionIVF alterations are present in pwMS even when the other NODDI metrics are still mostly preserved. Changes in IVF are biologically non-specific and may not necessarily drive irreversible functional loss. However, by possibly preceding downstream pathologies that are strongly associated with disability accretion, IVF changes are indicators of, otherwise, occult prelesional tissue injury.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 70%

Transcallosal and Corticospinal White Matter Disease and Its Association With Motor Impairment in Multiple Sclerosis

et al. 2022

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The mPUL has efferent projections to many parts of the association cortex, including the cingulate and posterior parietal, premotor and prefrontal cortical areas 61 . The thalamus is heavily implicated in MS pathology, 62–64 while atrophy of the thalamus is common, 65 and has been demonstrated to help predict conversion to MS and future disability accumulation 65,66 . The thalamus has high levels of connectivity with the cortex, often characterised as a hub of communication within the brain 67,68 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Improvement of the thalamocortical white matter network in people with stable treated relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis over time

Alshehri,

Koussis,

Al‐iedani

et al. 2024

NMR in Biomedicine

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Advanced imaging techniques (tractography) enable the mapping of white matter (WM) pathways and the understanding of brain connectivity patterns. We combined tractography with a network‐based approach to examine WM microstructure on a network level in people with relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis (pw‐RRMS) and healthy controls (HCs) over 2 years. Seventy‐six pw‐RRMS matched with 43 HCs underwent clinical assessments and 3T MRI scans at baseline (BL) and 2‐year follow‐up (2‐YFU). Probabilistic tractography was performed, accounting for the effect of lesions, producing connectomes of 25 million streamlines. Network differences in fibre density across pw‐RRMS and HCs at BL and 2‐YFU were quantified using network‐based statistics (NBS). Longitudinal network differences in fibre density were quantified using NBS in pw‐RRMS, and were tested for correlations with disability, cognition and fatigue scores. Widespread network reductions in fibre density were found in pw‐RRMS compared with HCs at BL in cortical regions, with more reductions detected at 2‐YFU. Pw‐RRMS had reduced fibre density at BL in the thalamocortical network compared to 2‐YFU. This effect appeared after correction for age, was robust across different thresholds, and did not correlate with lesion volume or disease duration. Pw‐RRMS demonstrated a robust and long‐distance improvement in the thalamocortical WM network, regardless of age, disease burden, duration or therapy, suggesting a potential locus of neuroplasticity in MS. This network's role over the disease's lifespan and its potential implications in prognosis and treatment warrants further investigation.

show abstract

“…Atrophy of deep gray matter volume is a major determinant of progression of clinical disability ( Eshaghi et al, 2018 ). However, tracts of white matter that pass through these subcortical hub structures are relatively protected against MS lesions ( Clarke et al, 2022a ). Also, and perhaps counterintuitively, atrophy of the thalamus can coincide with increased functional connectivity between the cortex and the thalamus ( Tewarie et al, 2015 ).…”

Section: Multiple Sclerosismentioning

confidence: 99%

Hub overload and failure as a final common pathway in neurological brain network disorders

Stam

2024

Network Neuroscience

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Understanding the concept of network hubs and their role in brain disease is now rapidly becoming important for clinical neurology. Hub nodes in brain networks are areas highly connected to the rest of the brain, which handle a large part of all the network traffic. They also show high levels of neural activity and metabolism, which makes them vulnerable to many different types of pathology. The present review examines recent evidence for the prevalence and nature of hub involvement in a variety of neurological disorders, emphasizing common themes across different types of pathology. In focal epilepsy pathological hubs may play a role in spreading of seizure activity, and removal of such hub nodes is associated with improved outcome. In stroke damage to hubs is associated with impaired cognitive recovery. Breakdown of optimal brain network organization in multiple sclerosis is accompanied by cognitive dysfunction. In Alzheimer’s disease hyperactive hub nodes are directly associated with amyloid beta and tau pathology. Early and reliable detection of hub pathology and disturbed connectivity in Alzheimer’s disease with imaging and neurophysiological techniques opens up opportunities to detect patients with a network hyperexcitability profile, who could benefit from treatment with anti-epileptic drugs.

show abstract

White matter tracts that overlap with the thalamus and the putamen are protected against multiple sclerosis pathology

Cited by 3 publications

References 31 publications

Transcallosal and Corticospinal White Matter Disease and Its Association With Motor Impairment in Multiple Sclerosis

Transcallosal and Corticospinal White Matter Disease and Its Association With Motor Impairment in Multiple Sclerosis

Improvement of the thalamocortical white matter network in people with stable treated relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis over time

Hub overload and failure as a final common pathway in neurological brain network disorders

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About