Abstract
Background: Processing speed (PS) deficits have been consistently observed in secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS). However, the underlying neural correlates have not been clarified yet. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between macrostructural and microstructural white matter (WM) integrity and performance on different cognitive measures with prominent PS load. Methods: Thirty-one patients with SPMS were recruited and underwent neurological, neuropsychological, and MRI assessments. The associations between a composite index of PS abilities and scores on various tests with prominent PS load and T1-weighted and diffusion tensor image parameters were tested. Analyses were carried out using voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS). Results: VBM results showed that only the semantic fluency task correlated with grey matter (GM) volume in a range of cortical and subcortical areas bilaterally as well as the corpus callosum and the superior longitudinal fasciculus. TBSS analysis revealed consistent results across all the cognitive measures investigated, showing a prominent role of commissural and frontal associative WM tracts in supporting PS-demanding cognitive operations. Conclusions: In patients with SPMS, PS abilities are mainly dependent on the degree of both macrostructural and microstructural WM integrity. Preservation of associative WM tracts that support information integration seems crucial to sustain performance in tasks requiring fast cognitive processes.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 198-207 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders |
| Volume | 30 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - May 1 2019 |
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Keywords
- Cognition
- Diffusion tensor imaging
- MRI
- Processing speed
- Voxel based morphometry
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Neurology
- Clinical Neurology
Cite this
Cognitive speed and white matter integrity in secondary progressive multiple sclerosis. / Manca, Riccardo; Stabile, Maria R.; Bevilacqua, Francesca; Cadorin, Cristina; Piccione, Francesco; Sharrack, Basil; Venneri, Annalena.
In: Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders, Vol. 30, 01.05.2019, p. 198-207.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Cognitive speed and white matter integrity in secondary progressive multiple sclerosis
AU - Manca, Riccardo
AU - Stabile, Maria R.
AU - Bevilacqua, Francesca
AU - Cadorin, Cristina
AU - Piccione, Francesco
AU - Sharrack, Basil
AU - Venneri, Annalena
PY - 2019/5/1
Y1 - 2019/5/1
N2 - Background: Processing speed (PS) deficits have been consistently observed in secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS). However, the underlying neural correlates have not been clarified yet. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between macrostructural and microstructural white matter (WM) integrity and performance on different cognitive measures with prominent PS load. Methods: Thirty-one patients with SPMS were recruited and underwent neurological, neuropsychological, and MRI assessments. The associations between a composite index of PS abilities and scores on various tests with prominent PS load and T1-weighted and diffusion tensor image parameters were tested. Analyses were carried out using voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS). Results: VBM results showed that only the semantic fluency task correlated with grey matter (GM) volume in a range of cortical and subcortical areas bilaterally as well as the corpus callosum and the superior longitudinal fasciculus. TBSS analysis revealed consistent results across all the cognitive measures investigated, showing a prominent role of commissural and frontal associative WM tracts in supporting PS-demanding cognitive operations. Conclusions: In patients with SPMS, PS abilities are mainly dependent on the degree of both macrostructural and microstructural WM integrity. Preservation of associative WM tracts that support information integration seems crucial to sustain performance in tasks requiring fast cognitive processes.
AB - Background: Processing speed (PS) deficits have been consistently observed in secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS). However, the underlying neural correlates have not been clarified yet. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between macrostructural and microstructural white matter (WM) integrity and performance on different cognitive measures with prominent PS load. Methods: Thirty-one patients with SPMS were recruited and underwent neurological, neuropsychological, and MRI assessments. The associations between a composite index of PS abilities and scores on various tests with prominent PS load and T1-weighted and diffusion tensor image parameters were tested. Analyses were carried out using voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS). Results: VBM results showed that only the semantic fluency task correlated with grey matter (GM) volume in a range of cortical and subcortical areas bilaterally as well as the corpus callosum and the superior longitudinal fasciculus. TBSS analysis revealed consistent results across all the cognitive measures investigated, showing a prominent role of commissural and frontal associative WM tracts in supporting PS-demanding cognitive operations. Conclusions: In patients with SPMS, PS abilities are mainly dependent on the degree of both macrostructural and microstructural WM integrity. Preservation of associative WM tracts that support information integration seems crucial to sustain performance in tasks requiring fast cognitive processes.
KW - Cognition
KW - Diffusion tensor imaging
KW - MRI
KW - Processing speed
KW - Voxel based morphometry
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85061803122&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85061803122&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.msard.2019.02.021
DO - 10.1016/j.msard.2019.02.021
M3 - Article
VL - 30
SP - 198
EP - 207
JO - Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders
JF - Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders
SN - 2211-0348
ER -