Christina Mueller1, Jessica F Baird2, Robert W Motl2. 1. Department of Neurology, 9967University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States. 2. Department of Physical Therapy, 9968University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Older adults with multiple sclerosis (MS) experience mobility impairments, but conventional brain imaging is a poor predictor of walking abilities in this population. OBJECTIVE: To test whether brain metabolites measured with Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) are associated with walking performance in older adults with MS. METHODS: Fifteen older adults with MS (mean age: 60.9, SD: 5.1) and 22 age-matched healthy controls (mean age: 64.2, SD: 5.7) underwent whole-brain MRS and mobility testing. Levels of N-acetylaspartate (NAA), myo-inositol (MI), choline (CHO), and temperature in 47 brain regions were compared between groups and correlated with walking speed (Timed 25 Foot Walk) and walking endurance (Six-Minute Walk). RESULTS: Older adults with MS had higher MI in 23 areas, including the bilateral frontal (right: t (21.449) = -2.605, P = .016; left: t (35) = -2.434, P = .020), temporal (right: t (35) = -3.063, P = .004; left: t (35) = -3.026, P = .005), and parietal lobes (right: t (21.100) = -2.886, P = .009; left: t (35) = -2.507, P = .017), and right thalamus (t (35) = -2.840, P = .007). MI in eleven regions correlated with walking speed, and MI in twelve regions correlated with walking endurance. NAA was lower in MS in the bilateral thalami (right: t (35) = 3.449, P < .001; left: t (35) = 2.061, P = .047), caudate nuclei (right: t (33) = 2.828, P = .008; left: t (32) = 2.132, P = .041), and posterior cingulum (right: t (35) = 3.077, P = .004; left: t (35) = 2.972, P = .005). NAA in four regions correlated with walking speed and endurance. Brain temperature was higher in MS patients in four regions, but did not correlate with mobility measures. There were no group differences in CHO. CONCLUSION: MI and NAA may be useful imaging end-points for walking ability as a clinical outcome in older adults with MS.
BACKGROUND: Older adults with multiple sclerosis (MS) experience mobility impairments, but conventional brain imaging is a poor predictor of walking abilities in this population. OBJECTIVE: To test whether brain metabolites measured with Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) are associated with walking performance in older adults with MS. METHODS: Fifteen older adults with MS (mean age: 60.9, SD: 5.1) and 22 age-matched healthy controls (mean age: 64.2, SD: 5.7) underwent whole-brain MRS and mobility testing. Levels of N-acetylaspartate (NAA), myo-inositol (MI), choline (CHO), and temperature in 47 brain regions were compared between groups and correlated with walking speed (Timed 25 Foot Walk) and walking endurance (Six-Minute Walk). RESULTS: Older adults with MS had higher MI in 23 areas, including the bilateral frontal (right: t (21.449) = -2.605, P = .016; left: t (35) = -2.434, P = .020), temporal (right: t (35) = -3.063, P = .004; left: t (35) = -3.026, P = .005), and parietal lobes (right: t (21.100) = -2.886, P = .009; left: t (35) = -2.507, P = .017), and right thalamus (t (35) = -2.840, P = .007). MI in eleven regions correlated with walking speed, and MI in twelve regions correlated with walking endurance. NAA was lower in MS in the bilateral thalami (right: t (35) = 3.449, P < .001; left: t (35) = 2.061, P = .047), caudate nuclei (right: t (33) = 2.828, P = .008; left: t (32) = 2.132, P = .041), and posterior cingulum (right: t (35) = 3.077, P = .004; left: t (35) = 2.972, P = .005). NAA in four regions correlated with walking speed and endurance. Brain temperature was higher in MS patients in four regions, but did not correlate with mobility measures. There were no group differences in CHO. CONCLUSION: MI and NAA may be useful imaging end-points for walking ability as a clinical outcome in older adults with MS.
Authors: John R Moffett; Brian Ross; Peethambaran Arun; Chikkathur N Madhavarao; Aryan M A Namboodiri Journal: Prog Neurobiol Date: 2007-01-05 Impact factor: 11.685
Authors: Henrik Kahr Mathiesen; Thomas Tscherning; Per Soelberg Sorensen; Henrik B W Larsson; Egill Rostrup; Olaf B Paulson; Lars G Hanson Journal: Magn Reson Med Date: 2005-04 Impact factor: 4.668