Skeletonized Mean Diffusivity and Neuropsychological Performance in Relapsing-remitting Multiple Sclerosis

Overview

Journal Brain Behav

Specialty Psychology

Date 2022 May 13

PMID 35560868

Authors

Magdalena Chylinska

Bartosz Karaszewski

Jakub Komendzinski

Adam Wyszomirski

Agnieszka Sabisz

Marek Halas

Edyta Szurowska

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Peak width of Skeletonized Mean Diffusivity (PSMD), as a novel marker of white matter (WM) microstructure damage, is associated with cognitive decline in several WM pathologies (i.e., small vessel disorders). We hypothesized that markers combining alterations in whole WM could be associated with cognitive dysfunction in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients.

Methods: We used PSMD based on tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) magnetic resonance (MR) scans. We investigated RRMS patients (n = 73) undergoing interferon beta (IFN-β) therapy. In this cross-sectional study, we investigated the association between neuropsychological data and clinical and MRI variables: PSMD, WM hypointensities, and normalized brain volume (NBV).

Results: In our cohort, 37 (50.7%) patients were recognized as cognitively impaired (CI) and 36 (49.3%) patients were cognitively normal (CN). In regression analysis, PSMD was a statistically significant contributor in the California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT) list A (p = 0.04) and semantic fluency (p = 0.036). PSMD (p < 0.001, r = 0.35), NBV (p = 0.002, r = 2.6) and WM hypointensities (p < 0.001, r = 0.40) were major contributors to upper extremity disability (9HPT) in the CN subgroup. A significant contributor in the majority of neuropsychological measures was education attainment.

Conclusion: We investigated PSMD as a new parameter of WM microstructure damage that is a contributor in complex cognitive tasks, CVLT performance, and semantic fluency. PSMD was a statistically significant contributor to upper extremity disability (9HPT) together with WM hypointensities and NBV. Education attainment proved to be relevant in the majority of cognitive domains. Further studies are needed to estimate PSMD relevance as a marker of CI in MS.

Citing Articles

Peak width of skeletonized mean diffusivity: a novel biomarker for white matter damage in spinocerebellar ataxia type 2.

Chen N, Peng J, Xiong F, Tu Y Neuroradiology. 2024; 67(1):183-189.

PMID: 39535589 DOI: 10.1007/s00234-024-03499-5.

Skeletonized mean diffusivity and neuropsychological performance in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.

Chylinska M, Karaszewski B, Komendzinski J, Wyszomirski A, Sabisz A, Halas M Brain Behav. 2022; 12(6):e2591.

PMID: 35560868 PMC: 9226842. DOI: 10.1002/brb3.2591.

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