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Chipika RH, Mulkerrin G, Pradat PF, Murad A, Ango F, Raoul C, Bede P. Cerebellar pathology in motor neuron disease: neuroplasticity and neurodegeneration. Neural Regen Res 2022; 17:2335-2341. [PMID: 35535867 PMCID: PMC9120698 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.336139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a relentlessly progressive multi-system condition. The clinical picture is dominated by upper and lower motor neuron degeneration, but extra-motor pathology is increasingly recognized, including cerebellar pathology. Post-mortem and neuroimaging studies primarily focus on the characterization of supratentorial disease, despite emerging evidence of cerebellar degeneration in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Cardinal clinical features of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, such as dysarthria, dysphagia, cognitive and behavioral deficits, saccade abnormalities, gait impairment, respiratory weakness and pseudobulbar affect are likely to be exacerbated by co-existing cerebellar pathology. This review summarizes in vivo and post mortem evidence for cerebellar degeneration in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Structural imaging studies consistently capture cerebellar grey matter volume reductions, diffusivity studies readily detect both intra-cerebellar and cerebellar peduncle white matter alterations and functional imaging studies commonly report increased functional connectivity with supratentorial regions. Increased functional connectivity is commonly interpreted as evidence of neuroplasticity representing compensatory processes despite the lack of post-mortem validation. There is a scarcity of post-mortem studies focusing on cerebellar alterations, but these detect pTDP-43 in cerebellar nuclei. Cerebellar pathology is an overlooked facet of neurodegeneration in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis despite its contribution to a multitude of clinical symptoms, widespread connectivity to spinal and supratentorial regions and putative role in compensating for the degeneration of primary motor regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rangariroyashe H Chipika
- Computational Neuroimaging Group, Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Grainne Mulkerrin
- Computational Neuroimaging Group, Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | | | - Aizuri Murad
- Computational Neuroimaging Group, Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Fabrice Ango
- The Neuroscience Institute of Montpellier (INM), INSERM, CNRS, Montpellier, France
| | - Cédric Raoul
- The Neuroscience Institute of Montpellier (INM), INSERM, CNRS, Montpellier, France
| | - Peter Bede
- Computational Neuroimaging Group, Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland; Pitié-Salpêtrière University Hospital, Sorbonne University, Paris, France
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Luo C, Hu N, Xiao Y, Zhang W, Gong Q, Lui S. Comparison of Gray Matter Atrophy in Behavioral Variant Frontal Temporal Dementia and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Coordinate-Based Meta-Analysis. Front Aging Neurosci 2020; 12:14. [PMID: 32116647 PMCID: PMC7026505 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2020.00014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2019] [Accepted: 01/16/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: There is growing evidence supporting behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) as extreme points of a disease spectrum. The aim of this study was to delineate the common and different patterns of gray matter atrophy associated with bvFTD and with ALS by pooling together the results of previous voxel-based morphometry (VBM) studies. Methods: We retrieved VBM studies that investigated gray matter atrophy in bvFTD patients vs. controls and in ALS patients vs. controls. Stereotactic data were extracted from those studies and subsequently tested for convergence and differences using activation likelihood estimation (ALE). A behavioral analysis using the BrainMap database was performed to assess the functional roles of the regions affected by bvFTD and/or ALS. Results: Our study demonstrated a convergence of gray matter atrophy in the frontolimbic structures that involve the bilateral anterior insula and anterior cingulate cortex. Comparing the pattern of GM atrophy in bvFTD and ALS patients revealed greater atrophy in the frontomedial cortex, bilateral caudate, left anterior insula, and right thalamus in those with bvFTD and a higher degree of atrophy in the right motor cortex of those with ALS. Behavioral analysis revealed that the pattern of the affected regions contributed to the dysfunction of emotional and cognitive processing in bvFTD patients and the dysfunction of motor execution in ALS patients. Conclusion: Our results revealed a shared neural basis between bvFTD and ALS subjects, as well as a specific and distinct neural signature that underpinned the clinical manifestations of those two diseases. Those findings outlined the role of the frontomedial-caudate circuit in the development of bvFTD-like deficits in ALS patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunyan Luo
- Functional and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Department of Radiology, Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.,Psychoradiology Research Unit of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2018RU011), West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Na Hu
- Functional and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Department of Radiology, Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.,Psychoradiology Research Unit of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2018RU011), West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yuan Xiao
- Functional and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Department of Radiology, Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.,Psychoradiology Research Unit of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2018RU011), West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Wenjing Zhang
- Functional and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Department of Radiology, Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.,Psychoradiology Research Unit of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2018RU011), West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Qiyong Gong
- Functional and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Department of Radiology, Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.,Psychoradiology Research Unit of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2018RU011), West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Su Lui
- Functional and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Department of Radiology, Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.,Psychoradiology Research Unit of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2018RU011), West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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Mazón M, Vázquez Costa JF, Ten-Esteve A, Martí-Bonmatí L. Imaging Biomarkers for the Diagnosis and Prognosis of Neurodegenerative Diseases. The Example of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Front Neurosci 2018; 12:784. [PMID: 30410433 PMCID: PMC6209630 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2018.00784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2018] [Accepted: 10/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The term amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) comprises a heterogeneous group of fatal neurodegenerative disorders of largely unknown etiology characterized by the upper motor neurons (UMN) and/or lower motor neurons (LMN) degeneration. The development of brain imaging biomarkers is essential to advance in the diagnosis, stratification and monitoring of ALS, both in the clinical practice and clinical trials. In this review, the characteristics of an optimal imaging biomarker and common pitfalls in biomarkers evaluation will be discussed. Moreover, the development and application of the most promising brain magnetic resonance (MR) imaging biomarkers will be reviewed. Finally, the integration of both qualitative and quantitative multimodal brain MR biomarkers in a structured report will be proposed as a support tool for ALS diagnosis and stratification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Mazón
- Radiology and Biomedical Imaging Research Group (GIBI230), La Fe University and Polytechnic Hospital and La Fe Health Research Institute, Valencia, Spain
| | - Juan Francisco Vázquez Costa
- Neuromuscular Research Unit, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria la Fe (IIS La Fe), Valencia, Spain
- ALS Unit, Department of Neurology, Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe, Valencia, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Valencia, Spain
| | - Amadeo Ten-Esteve
- Radiology and Biomedical Imaging Research Group (GIBI230), La Fe University and Polytechnic Hospital and La Fe Health Research Institute, Valencia, Spain
| | - Luis Martí-Bonmatí
- Radiology and Biomedical Imaging Research Group (GIBI230), La Fe University and Polytechnic Hospital and La Fe Health Research Institute, Valencia, Spain
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Shen D, Hou B, Xu Y, Cui B, Peng P, Li X, Tai H, Zhang K, Liu S, Fu H, Gao J, Liu M, Feng F, Cui L. Brain Structural and Perfusion Signature of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis With Varying Levels of Cognitive Deficit. Front Neurol 2018; 9:364. [PMID: 29881369 PMCID: PMC5976730 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2018.00364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2018] [Accepted: 05/04/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective To characterize the patterns of brain atrophy and perfusion as measured by arterial spin labeling (ASL)-MRI, in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients with varying levels of cognitive deficit, including ALS with frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Methods A total of 55 ALS patients and 20 healthy controls (HCs) were included, and all participants underwent neuropsychological assessments and MRI scans. According to their cognitive performance, ALS patients were further subclassified into ALS with normal cognition (ALS-Cn, n = 27), ALS with cognitive impairment (ALS-Ci, n = 17), and ALS-FTD (n = 11). Voxel-based comparisons of gray matter (GM) changes and cerebral blood flow (CBF) were conducted among the subgroups. Results The whole-brain comparisons of GM changes and CBF among ALS-Ci, ALS-Cn, and HCs were not significantly different. However, the ALS-FTD patients demonstrated a similar pattern of GM loss and hypoperfusion with more significant alterations in the left frontal and temporal lobe compared with the HCs, ALS-Cn, and ALS-Ci patients. Decreased CBF was found in many of the same brain areas wherein structural alterations occurred, although isolated GM loss and hypoperfusion were also observed. In addition, for both GM and CBF abnormalities, a similar pattern of changes was found in the comparisons of ALS-FTD vs. ALS-Ci, ALS-FTD vs. ALS-Cn, and ALS-FTD vs. HCs, with the differences being most significant between ALS-FTD and HCs. Conclusion The cognitive status of ALS patients is associated with different patterns of GM changes and cerebral perfusion. ASL-MRI might be a useful tool with which to investigate the pathological burden of ALS and to disclose the early signature of possible cognitive impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongchao Shen
- Department of Neurology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Bo Hou
- Department of Radiology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Yinyan Xu
- Department of Neurology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Bo Cui
- Department of Neurology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Pan Peng
- Department of Neurology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaolu Li
- Department of Neurology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Hongfei Tai
- Department of Neurology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Kang Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Shuangwu Liu
- Department of Neurology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Hanhui Fu
- Department of Neurology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Gao
- Department of Neurology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Mingsheng Liu
- Department of Neurology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Feng Feng
- Department of Radiology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Liying Cui
- Department of Neurology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.,Neuroscience Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
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White matter volume loss in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: A meta-analysis of voxel-based morphometry studies. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2018; 83:110-117. [PMID: 29330136 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2018.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2017] [Revised: 12/23/2017] [Accepted: 01/09/2018] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Structural neuroimaging studies of white matter (WM) volume in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) using voxel-based morphometry (VBM) have yielded inconsistent findings. This study aimed to perform a quantitative voxel-based meta-analysis using effect-size signed differential mapping (ES-SDM) to establish a statistical consensus between published studies for WM volume alterations in ALS. The pooled meta-analysis revealed significant WM volume losses in the bilateral supplementary motor areas (SMAs), bilateral precentral gyri (PGs), left middle cerebellar peduncle and right cerebellum in patients with ALS, involving the corticospinal tract (CST), interhemispheric fibers, subcortical arcuate fibers, projection fibers to the striatum and cortico-ponto-cerebellar tract. The meta-regression showed that the ALS functional rating scale-revised (ALSFRS-R) was positively correlated with decreased WM volume in the bilateral SMAs, whereas illness duration was negatively correlated with WM volume reduction in the right SMA. This study provides a thorough profile of WM volume loss in ALS and robust evidence that ALS is a multisystem neurodegenerative disease that involves a variety of subcortical WM tracts extending beyond motor cortex involvement.
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Shen D, Cui L, Fang J, Cui B, Li D, Tai H. Voxel-Wise Meta-Analysis of Gray Matter Changes in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Front Aging Neurosci 2016; 8:64. [PMID: 27065078 PMCID: PMC4811926 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2016.00064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2015] [Accepted: 03/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Increasing neuroimaging studies have revealed gray matter (GM) anomalies of several brain regions by voxel-based morphometry (VBM) studies in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). A voxel-wise meta-analysis was conducted to integrate the reported studies to determine the consistent GM alterations in ALS based on VBM methods. Methods: Ovid Medline, Pubmed, Emabase, and BrainMap database were searched for relevant studies.Data were extracted by two independent researchers. Voxel-wise meta-analysis was performed using the effect-size signed differential mapping (ES-SDM) software. Results: Twenty-nine VBM studies comprising 638 subjects with ALS and 622 healthy controls (HCs) met inclusion criteria.The global GM volumes of ALS patients were significantly decreased compared with those of HCs. GM reductions in patients were mainly located in the right precentral gyrus, the left Rolandic operculum, the left lenticular nucleus and the right anterior cingulate/paracingulate gyri. The right precentral gyrus and the left inferior frontal gyrus might be potential anatomical biomarkers to evaluate the severity of the disease, and longer disease duration was associated with more GM atrophy in the left frontal aslant tract and the right precentral gyrus in ALS patients. Conclusion: The results support that ALS is a complex degenerative disease involving multisystems besides the motor system.The mechanism of asymmetric atrophy of the motor cortex and the implication of Rolandic operculum involvement in ALS need to be further elucidated in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongchao Shen
- Department of Neurology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Beijing, China
| | - Liying Cui
- Department of Neurology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical SciencesBeijing, China; Neuroscience Center, Chinese Academy of Medical SciencesBeijing, China
| | - Jia Fang
- Department of Neurology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Beijing, China
| | - Bo Cui
- Department of Neurology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Beijing, China
| | - Dawei Li
- Department of Neurology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Beijing, China
| | - Hongfei Tai
- Department of Neurology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Beijing, China
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Grieve SM, Menon P, Korgaonkar MS, Gomes L, Foster S, Kiernan MC, Vucic S. Potential structural and functional biomarkers of upper motor neuron dysfunction in ALS. Amyotroph Lateral Scler Frontotemporal Degener 2015; 17:85-92. [DOI: 10.3109/21678421.2015.1074707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
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Lessons of ALS imaging: Pitfalls and future directions - A critical review. NEUROIMAGE-CLINICAL 2014; 4:436-43. [PMID: 24624329 PMCID: PMC3950559 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2014.02.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2013] [Revised: 02/23/2014] [Accepted: 02/23/2014] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Background While neuroimaging in ALS has gained unprecedented momentum in recent years, little progress has been made in the development of viable diagnostic, prognostic and monitoring markers. Objectives To identify and discuss the common pitfalls in ALS imaging studies and to reflect on optimal study designs based on pioneering studies. Methods A “PubMed”-based literature search on ALS was performed based on neuroimaging-related keywords. Study limitations were systematically reviewed and classified so that stereotypical trends could be identified. Results Common shortcomings, such as relatively small sample sizes, statistically underpowered study designs, lack of disease controls, poorly characterised patient cohorts and a large number of conflicting studies, remain a significant challenge to the field. Imaging data of ALS continue to be interpreted at a group-level, as opposed to meaningful individual-patient inferences. Conclusions A systematic, critical review of ALS imaging has identified stereotypical shortcomings, the lessons of which should be considered in the design of future prospective MRI studies. At a time when large multicentre studies are underway a candid discussion of these factors is particularly timely. Stereotypical shortcomings can be identified in ALS neuroimaging studies. A systematic discussion of ALS study limitations is particularly timely. Individual patient data meta-analyses and multicentre studies are urgently required. The gaps identified in ALS imaging indicate exciting research opportunities.
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Key Words
- AD, axial diffusivity
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
- Biomarker
- C9orf72, chromosome 9 open reading frame 72
- DTI, diffusion tensor imaging
- FA, fractional anisotropy
- MD, mean diffusivity
- MEG, magnetoencephalography
- MRI
- MRS, magnetic resonance spectroscopy
- MUNE, motor unit number estimation
- PET
- PET, positron emission tomography
- PNS, peripheral nervous system
- RD, radial diffusivity
- ROI, region of interest
- SPECT, single photon emission computed tomography
- Spectroscopy
- TMS, transcranial magnetic stimulation
- VBM, voxel-based morphometry
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Prell T, Grosskreutz J. The involvement of the cerebellum in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Amyotroph Lateral Scler Frontotemporal Degener 2013; 14:507-15. [DOI: 10.3109/21678421.2013.812661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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Rajagopalan V, Lowe MJ, Beall EB, Yue GH, Pioro EP. T2 relaxometry measurements in low spatial frequency brain regions differ between fast spin-echo and multiple-echo spin-echo sequences. MAGNETIC RESONANCE MATERIALS IN PHYSICS BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE 2013; 26:443-50. [PMID: 23354513 DOI: 10.1007/s10334-012-0364-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2012] [Revised: 12/19/2012] [Accepted: 12/20/2012] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
OBJECT Dual-echo fast spin-echo (FSE) sequences are used in T2 relaxometry studies of neurological disorders because of shorter clinical scanning times and protocol simplicity. However, FSE sequences have possible spatial frequency-dependent effects, and derived T2 values may include errors that depend on the spatial frequency characteristics of the brain region of interest. MATERIALS AND METHODS Dual-echo FSE and multi-echo spin-echo (MESE) sequences were acquired in nine subjects. The T2 decay curves for FSE and MESE sequences were estimated and percent error maps were generated. T2 error values were obtained along each patient's corticospinal tract (CST). Whole-brain white matter (WM) and gray matter (GM) T2 error values were also obtained. The paired t test was performed to evaluate differences in T2 values in the CST between FSE and MESE sequences. RESULTS Histograms of error values in CST and in whole-brain WM and GM structures revealed systematic errors in FSE sequences. Significant differences (P < 0.001) in CST T2 values were also observed between FSE and MESE sequences. CONCLUSION Our findings indicate that T2 values derived from FSE sequences are prone to large errors, even in low spatial frequency regions such as the CST, when compared to MESE sequences. Future studies should be aware of this limitation of FSE sequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Venkateswaran Rajagopalan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, ND2, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA,
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Turner MR, Agosta F, Bede P, Govind V, Lulé D, Verstraete E. Neuroimaging in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Biomark Med 2012; 6:319-37. [PMID: 22731907 DOI: 10.2217/bmm.12.26] [Citation(s) in RCA: 111] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The catastrophic system failure in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is characterized by progressive neurodegeneration within the corticospinal tracts, brainstem nuclei and spinal cord anterior horns, with an extra-motor pathology that has overlap with frontotemporal dementia. The development of computed tomography and, even more so, MRI has brought insights into neurological disease, previously only available through post-mortem study. Although largely research-based, radionuclide imaging has continued to provide mechanistic insights into neurodegenerative disorders. The evolution of MRI to use advanced sequences highly sensitive to cortical and white matter structure, parenchymal metabolites and blood flow, many of which are now applicable to the spinal cord as well as the brain, make it a uniquely valuable tool for the study of a multisystem disorder such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. This comprehensive review considers the full range of neuroimaging techniques applied to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis over the last 25 years, the biomarkers they have revealed and future developments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin R Turner
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Oxford University, UK.
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Libon DJ, McMillan C, Avants B, Boller A, Morgan B, Burkholder L, Chandrasekaran K, Elman L, McCluskey L, Grossman M. Deficits in concept formation in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Neuropsychology 2012; 26:422-9. [PMID: 22612577 PMCID: PMC3516292 DOI: 10.1037/a0028668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is associated with impaired executive control. The aim of the current research was to test the hypothesis that concept formation deficits associated with an extramotor neurocognitive network involving executive and semantic resources can be found in some ALS patients. METHOD Forty-one patients with clinically definite ALS were assessed with Delis Kaplan Executive Function System Sorting Test (D-KEFS), a measure of concept formation requiring patients to manipulate verbal and visual semantic information and neuropsychological tests measuring naming, semantic memory, and executive control. Using D-KEFS scale scores, a k-mean cluster analysis specifying a 3-group solution was able to classify ALS patients into groups presenting with mildly impaired, average, and above average sorting test performance. High-resolution T1 structural MRI was used to examine cortical thickness in a subset of 16 ALS patients. RESULTS Stepwise regression analyses related free and recognition sorting test performance to measures of action naming, single word semantic knowledge, and mental search/working memory. MRI studies found widespread cortical thinning involving bilateral frontal, temporal, and parietal regions. Regression analyses related recognition sorting performance to reduced MRI cortical thickness involving the left prefrontal and left parietal cortex. CONCLUSIONS An extramotor cognitive network is associated with impaired concept formation in ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J Libon
- Department of Neurology, Drexel University College of Medicine, New College Building, 245 North 15th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA.
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Tsermentseli S, Leigh PN, Goldstein LH. The anatomy of cognitive impairment in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: More than frontal lobe dysfunction. Cortex 2012; 48:166-82. [PMID: 21396632 DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2011.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2010] [Revised: 12/19/2010] [Accepted: 01/20/2011] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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