Evaluation of the correlation between thalamic area and cognitive functions in patients with early-stage relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study is to investigate the presence of cognitive dysfunction and deep gray matter involvement in the early-stages of Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis(RRMS) disease and examine the relationship between them. Materials and Methods: Thirty-four patients and 23 healthy individuals were included in the study. Patients diagnosed with RRMS according to the Revised 2010 and 2017 McDonald criteria, aged between 18-50, were enrolled in the study. The control group consisted of 23 healthy individuals with normal neurological examination, cranial magnetic resonance imaging(MRI), and cognitive functions. All participants underwent a neuropsychological test battery that covers memory, executive functions, language, and visuospatial domains, and the results of these tests were compared among the study groups. The data on MRI parameters, including the areas of the thalamus and corpus callosum as well as the width of the third ventricle, were compared among the study groups. Finally, the relationship between neuropsychological test results and MRI parameters was investigated in patients with early-stage RRMS. Results: The mean duration of the disease for MS patients was 3.53 years, and their median EDSS score was 2. It was observed that memory, executive functions, and fine motor skills were affected in early-stage RRMS patients. This impairment correlated with a decrease in the thalamus and corpus callosum areas and an increase in the third ventricle width. Conclusion: The MRI parameters defined as biomarkers for potential cognitive impairments in RRMS have critical importance in predicting the prognosis of the disease and taking early measures against future cognitive dysfunction.

Keywords

• Multiple Sclerosis
• deep gray matter
• thalamus
• cognitive dysfunction

Erken Evre Relapsing-Remitting Multipl Skleroz Hastalarında Talamus Alanı ile Bilişsel İşlevler Arasındaki İlişkinin Değerlendirilmesi

Öz

Amaç: Bu çalışmanın amacı, Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Skleroz (RRMS) hastalığının erken evrelerinde bilişsel işlev bozukluğunun ve derin gri madde tutulumunun varlığını araştırmak ve aralarındaki ilişkiyi incelemektir. Materyal ve Metot: Çalışmaya 34 hasta ve 23 sağlıklı birey dahil edildi. Çalışmaya, 2010 ve 2017 Revize McDonald kriterlerine göre RRMS tanısı konulan, 18-50 yaş arasındaki hastalar alındı. Kontrol grubu ise normal nörolojik muayene, kraniyal manyetik rezonans görüntüleme (MRG) ve bilişsel fonksiyonları olan 23 sağlıklı bireyden oluşuyordu. Tüm katılımcılara bellek, yürütücü işlevler, dil ve görsel-mekansal alan işlevlerini kapsayan bir nöropsikolojik test bataryası uygulandı ve bu testlerin sonuçları çalışma grupları arasında karşılaştırıldı. Talamus ve korpus kallozum alanları ile üçüncü ventrikül genişliği de dahil olmak üzere MRG parametrelerine ilişkin veriler, çalışma grupları arasında karşılaştırıldı. Son olarak, erken evre RRMS'li hastalarda nöropsikolojik test sonuçları ile MRG parametreleri arasındaki ilişki araştırıldı. Bulgular: MS hastalarının ortalama hastalık süresi 3.53 yıl ve ortanca EDSS skoru 2 idi. Erken evre RRMS hastalarında bellek, yürütücü işlevler ve ince motor becerilerin etkilendiği gözlendi. Bu bozulma, talamus ve korpus kallozum alanlarında azalma ve üçüncü ventrikül genişliğindeki artış ile koreleydi. Sonuç: RRMS'de potansiyel bilişsel bozukluklar için biyobelirteç olarak tanımlanan MRG parametreleri, hastalığın prognozunu tahmin etmede ve gelecekteki bilişsel işlev bozukluklarına karşı erken önlemler alınmasında kritik öneme sahiptir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Multiple Skleroz
• derin gri madde
• talamus
• bilişsel işlev bozukluğu

Kaynakça

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