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Dong X, Liu B, Huang W, Chen H, Zhang Y, Yao Z, Shmuel A, Yang A, Dai Z, Ma G, Shu N. Disrupted cerebellar structural connectome in spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 and its association with transcriptional profiles. Cereb Cortex 2024; 34:bhae238. [PMID: 38850215 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhae238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2024] [Revised: 05/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3) is primarily characterized by progressive cerebellar degeneration, including gray matter atrophy and disrupted anatomical and functional connectivity. The alterations of cerebellar white matter structural network in SCA3 and the underlying neurobiological mechanism remain unknown. Using a cohort of 20 patients with SCA3 and 20 healthy controls, we constructed cerebellar structural networks from diffusion MRI and investigated alterations of topological organization. Then, we mapped the alterations with transcriptome data from the Allen Human Brain Atlas to identify possible biological mechanisms for regional selective vulnerability to white matter damage. Compared with healthy controls, SCA3 patients exhibited reduced global and nodal efficiency, along with a widespread decrease in edge strength, particularly affecting edges connected to hub regions. The strength of inter-module connections was lower in SCA3 group and negatively correlated with the Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia score, International Cooperative Ataxia Rating Scale score, and cytosine-adenine-guanine repeat number. Moreover, the transcriptome-connectome association study identified the expression of genes involved in synapse-related and metabolic biological processes. These findings suggest a mechanism of white matter vulnerability and a potential image biomarker for the disease severity, providing insights into neurodegeneration and pathogenesis in this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyi Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning and IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, 19 Xiejiekouwai Street, Haidian District, Beijing 100875, China
- BABRI Centre, Beijing Normal University, 19 Xiejiekouwai Street, Haidian District, Beijing 100875, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Brain Imaging and Connectomics, Beijing Normal University, 19 Xiejiekouwai Street, Haidian District, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Bing Liu
- Department of Radiology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, 324 Jing-wu Road, Jinan, Shandong Province, 250021, China
| | - Weijie Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning and IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, 19 Xiejiekouwai Street, Haidian District, Beijing 100875, China
- BABRI Centre, Beijing Normal University, 19 Xiejiekouwai Street, Haidian District, Beijing 100875, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Brain Imaging and Connectomics, Beijing Normal University, 19 Xiejiekouwai Street, Haidian District, Beijing 100875, China
- Department of Systems Science, Beijing Normal University, 19 Xiejiekouwai Street, Haidian District, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Haojie Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning and IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, 19 Xiejiekouwai Street, Haidian District, Beijing 100875, China
- BABRI Centre, Beijing Normal University, 19 Xiejiekouwai Street, Haidian District, Beijing 100875, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Brain Imaging and Connectomics, Beijing Normal University, 19 Xiejiekouwai Street, Haidian District, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Yunhao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Multimodal Artificial Intelligence Systems, Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 95 Zhongguancun East Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Zeshan Yao
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Jingjinji National Center of Technology Innovation, Building 9, No. 6 Dongsheng Science Park North Street, Haidian District, Beijing 100094, China
| | - Amir Shmuel
- McConnell Brain Imaging Centre, Montreal Neurological Institute, 3801 University, Room NW261, Montreal, QC, Canada H3A 2B4
- Departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Physiology, and Biomedical Engineering, 3801 University, Room NW261, Montreal, QC, Canada H3A 2B4
| | - Aocai Yang
- Department of Radiology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, No. 2 East Yinghua Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Zhengjia Dai
- Department of Psychology, Sun Yat-sen University, 132 Outer Ring East Road, Panyu District, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510275, China
| | - Guolin Ma
- Department of Radiology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, No. 2 East Yinghua Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Ni Shu
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning and IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, 19 Xiejiekouwai Street, Haidian District, Beijing 100875, China
- BABRI Centre, Beijing Normal University, 19 Xiejiekouwai Street, Haidian District, Beijing 100875, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Brain Imaging and Connectomics, Beijing Normal University, 19 Xiejiekouwai Street, Haidian District, Beijing 100875, China
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Ye ZX, Bi J, Qiu LL, Chen XY, Li MC, Chen XY, Qiu YS, Yuan RY, Yu XT, Huang CY, Cheng B, Lin W, Chen WJ, Hu JP, Fu Y, Wang N, Gan SR. Cognitive impairment associated with cerebellar volume loss in spinocerebellar ataxia type 3. J Neurol 2024; 271:918-928. [PMID: 37848650 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-023-12042-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Many neuroscience and neurology studies have forced a reconsideration of the traditional motor-related scope of cerebellar function, which has now expanded to include various cognitive functions. Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3; the most common hereditary ataxia) is neuropathologically characterized by cerebellar atrophy and frequently presents with cognitive impairment. OBJECTIVE To characterize cognitive impairment in SCA3 and investigate the cerebellum-cognition associations. METHODS This prospective, cross-sectional cohort study recruited 126 SCA3 patients and 41 healthy control individuals (HCs). Participants underwent a brain 3D T1-weighted images as well as neuropsychological tests. Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and region of interest (ROI) approaches were performed on the 3D T1-weighted images. CERES was used to automatically segment cerebellums. Patients were grouped into cognitively impaired (CI) and cognitively preserved (CP), and clinical and MRI parameters were compared. Multivariable regression models were fitted to examine associations between cerebellar microstructural alterations and cognitive domain impairments. RESULTS Compared to HCs, SCA3 patients showed cognitive domain impairments in information processing speed, verbal memory, executive function, and visuospatial perception. Between CI and CP subgroups, the CI subgroup was older and had lower education, as well as higher severity scores. VBM and ROI analyses revealed volume loss in cerebellar bilateral lobule VI, right lobule Crus I, and right lobule IV of the CI subgroup, and all these cerebellar lobules were associated with the above cognitive domain impairments. CONCLUSIONS Our findings demonstrate the multiple cognitive domain impairments in SCA3 patients and indicate the responsible cerebellar lobules for the impaired cognitive domain(s).
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi-Xian Ye
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology of First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Neuroscience and Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350005, China
| | - Jin Bi
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology of First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Neuroscience and Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350005, China
| | - Liang-Liang Qiu
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology of First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Neuroscience and Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350005, China
- Department of Neurology, National Regional Medical Center, Binhai Campus of the First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350212, China
| | - Xuan-Yu Chen
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350005, China
| | - Meng-Cheng Li
- Department of Radiology of First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350005, China
| | - Xin-Yuan Chen
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine of First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350005, China
| | - Yu-Sen Qiu
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology of First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Neuroscience and Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350005, China
| | - Ru-Ying Yuan
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology of First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Neuroscience and Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350005, China
| | - Xin-Tong Yu
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology of First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Neuroscience and Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350005, China
| | - Chun-Yu Huang
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology of First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Neuroscience and Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350005, China
- Department of Neurology, National Regional Medical Center, Binhai Campus of the First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350212, China
| | - Bi Cheng
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology of First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Neuroscience and Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350005, China
| | - Wei Lin
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology of First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Neuroscience and Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350005, China
| | - Wan-Jin Chen
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology of First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Neuroscience and Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350005, China
- Department of Neurology, National Regional Medical Center, Binhai Campus of the First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350212, China
| | - Jian-Ping Hu
- Department of Radiology of First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350005, China
| | - Ying Fu
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology of First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Neuroscience and Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350005, China.
- Department of Neurology, National Regional Medical Center, Binhai Campus of the First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350212, China.
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350005, China.
| | - Ning Wang
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology of First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Neuroscience and Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350005, China.
- Department of Neurology, National Regional Medical Center, Binhai Campus of the First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350212, China.
| | - Shi-Rui Gan
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology of First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Neuroscience and Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350005, China.
- Department of Neurology, National Regional Medical Center, Binhai Campus of the First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350212, China.
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Coarelli G, Coutelier M, Durr A. Autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxias: new genes and progress towards treatments. Lancet Neurol 2023; 22:735-749. [PMID: 37479376 DOI: 10.1016/s1474-4422(23)00068-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Revised: 01/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/23/2023]
Abstract
Dominantly inherited spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) are associated with phenotypes that range from pure cerebellar to multisystemic. The list of implicated genes has lengthened in the past 5 years with the inclusion of SCA37/DAB1, SCA45/FAT2, SCA46/PLD3, SCA47/PUM1, SCA48/STUB1, SCA50/NPTX1, SCA25/PNPT1, SCA49/SAM9DL, and SCA27B/FGF14. In some patients, co-occurrence of multiple potentially pathogenic variants can explain variable penetrance or more severe phenotypes. Given this extreme clinical and genetic heterogeneity, genome sequencing should become the diagnostic tool of choice but is still not available in many clinical settings. Treatments tested in phase 2 and phase 3 studies, such as riluzole and transcranial direct current stimulation of the cerebellum and spinal cord, have given conflicting results. To enable early intervention, preataxic carriers of pathogenic variants should be assessed with biomarkers, such as neurofilament light chain and brain MRI; these biomarkers could also be used as outcome measures, given that clinical outcomes are not useful in the preataxic phase. The development of bioassays measuring the concentration of the mutant protein (eg, ataxin-3) might facilitate monitoring of target engagement by gene therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Coarelli
- Sorbonne Université, ICM Institut du Cerveau, Pitié-Salpeêtrieère University Hospital, Paris, France; Institut National de la Santé Et de la Recherche Médicale, Paris, France; Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Paris, France; Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Marie Coutelier
- Sorbonne Université, ICM Institut du Cerveau, Pitié-Salpeêtrieère University Hospital, Paris, France; Institut National de la Santé Et de la Recherche Médicale, Paris, France; Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Paris, France; Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Alexandra Durr
- Sorbonne Université, ICM Institut du Cerveau, Pitié-Salpeêtrieère University Hospital, Paris, France; Institut National de la Santé Et de la Recherche Médicale, Paris, France; Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Paris, France; Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France.
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Qiu H, Wu C, Liang J, Hu M, Chen Y, Huang Z, Yang Z, Zhao J, Chu J. Structural alterations of spinocerebellar ataxias type 3: from pre-symptomatic to symptomatic stage. Eur Radiol 2023; 33:2881-2894. [PMID: 36370172 DOI: 10.1007/s00330-022-09214-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2022] [Revised: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To investigate and characterize the structural alterations of the brain in SCA3, and their correlations with the scale for the assessment and rating of ataxia (SARA) and normal brain ATXN3 expression. METHODS We performed multimodal analyses in 52 SCA3 (15 pre-symptomatic) and healthy controls (HCs) (n = 35) to assess the abnormalities of gray and white matter (WM) of the cerebrum, brainstem, and cerebellum via FreeSurfer, SUIT, and TBSS, and their associations with disease severity. Twenty SCA3 patients (5 pre- and 15 symptomatic) were followed for at least a year. Besides, we uncovered the normal pattern of brain ATXN3 spatial distribution. RESULTS Pre-symptomatic patients showed only WM damage, mainly in the cerebellar peduncles, compared to HCs. In the advanced stage, the WM damage followed a caudal-rostral pattern. Meanwhile, continuous nonlinear structure damage was characterized by brainstem volumetric reduction and relatively symmetric cerebellar and basal ganglia atrophy but spared the cerebral cortex, partially explained by the ATXN3 overexpression. The bilateral pallidum, brainstem, and cerebellar peduncles demonstrated a very large effect size. Besides, all these alterations were significantly correlated with SARA; the pons (r = -0.65) and superior cerebellar peduncle (r = -0.68) volume demonstrated a higher correlation than the cerebellum with SARA. The longitudinal study further uncovered progressive atrophy of pons in symptomatic SCA3. CONCLUSIONS Significant WM damage starts before the ataxia onset. The bilateral pallidum, brainstem, and cerebellar peduncles are the most vulnerable targets. The volume of pons appears to be the most promising imaging biomarker for a longitudinal study. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrial ID: ChiCTR2100045857 ( http://www.chictr.org.cn/edit.aspx?pid=55652&htm=4 ) KEY POINTS: • Pre- SCA3 showed WM damage mainly in cerebellar peduncles. Continuous brain damage was characterized by brainstem, widespread, and relatively symmetric cerebellar and basal ganglia atrophy. • Volumetric abnormalities were most evident in the bilateral pallidum, brainstem, and cerebellar peduncles in SCA3. • The volume of pons might identify the disease progression longitudinally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haishan Qiu
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, 58th, The Second Zhongshan Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Chao Wu
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, 58th, The Second Zhongshan Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiahui Liang
- Department of Radiology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center; State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine; Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Manshi Hu
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, 58th, The Second Zhongshan Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Yingqian Chen
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, 58th, The Second Zhongshan Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Zihuan Huang
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, 58th, The Second Zhongshan Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhiyun Yang
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, 58th, The Second Zhongshan Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Jing Zhao
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, 58th, The Second Zhongshan Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
| | - Jianping Chu
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, 58th, The Second Zhongshan Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
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Schuster KH, DiFranco DM, Putka AF, Mato JP, Jarrah SI, Stec NR, Sundararajan VO, McLoughlin HS. Disease-associated oligodendrocyte signatures are spatiotemporally dysregulated in spinocerebellar ataxia type 3. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1118429. [PMID: 36875652 PMCID: PMC9975394 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1118429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3) is a neurodegenerative disease caused by a CAG repeat expansion in the ATXN3 gene. Though the ATXN3 protein is expressed ubiquitously throughout the CNS, regional pathology in SCA3 patients is observed within select neuronal populations and more recently within oligodendrocyte-rich white matter tracts. We have previously recapitulated these white matter abnormalities in an overexpression mouse model of SCA3 and demonstrated that oligodendrocyte maturation impairments are one of the earliest and most progressive changes in SCA3 pathogenesis. Disease-associated oligodendrocyte signatures have recently emerged as significant contributors to several other neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease, and Parkinson's disease, but their role in regional vulnerability and disease progression remains unexplored. Here, we are the first to comparatively assess myelination in human tissue in a region-dependent manner. Translating these findings to SCA3 mouse models of disease, we confirmed endogenous expression of mutant Atxn3 leads to regional transcriptional dysregulation of oligodendrocyte maturation markers in Knock-In models of SCA3. We then investigated the spatiotemporal progression of mature oligodendrocyte transcriptional dysregulation in an overexpression SCA3 mouse model and how it relates to the onset of motor impairment. We further determined that regional reduction in mature oligodendrocyte cell counts in SCA3 mice over time parallels the onset and progression of brain atrophy in SCA3 patients. This work emphasizes the prospective contributions of disease-associated oligodendrocyte signatures to regional vulnerability and could inform timepoints and target regions imperative for biomarker assessment and therapeutic intervention in several neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristen H Schuster
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Danielle M DiFranco
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Alexandra F Putka
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States.,Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Juan P Mato
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States.,Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Sabrina I Jarrah
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Nicholas R Stec
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | | | - Hayley S McLoughlin
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
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Chen X, Huang Z, Lin W, Li M, Ye Z, Qiu Y, Xia X, Chen N, Hu J, Gan S, Chen Q. Altered brain white matter structural motor network in spinocerebellar ataxia type 3. Ann Clin Transl Neurol 2022; 10:225-236. [PMID: 36479904 PMCID: PMC9930426 DOI: 10.1002/acn3.51713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Revised: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 is a disorder within the brain network. However, the relationship between the brain network and disease severity is still unclear. This study aims to investigate changes in the white matter (WM) structural motor network, both in preclinical and ataxic stages, and its relationship with disease severity. METHODS For this study, 20 ataxic, 20 preclinical SCA3 patients, and 20 healthy controls were recruited and received MRI scans. Disease severity was quantified using the SARA and ICARS scores. The WM motor structural network was created using probabilistic fiber tracking and was analyzed using graph theory and network-based statistics at global, nodal, and edge levels. In addition, the correlations between network topological measures and disease duration or clinical scores were analyzed. RESULTS Preclinical patients showed increasing assortativity of the motor network, altered subnetwork including 12 edges of 11 nodes, and 5 brain regions presenting reduced nodal strength. In ataxic patients assortativity of the motor network also increased, but global efficiency, global strength, and transitivity decreased. Ataxic patients showed a wider altered subnetwork and a higher number of reduced nodal strengths. A negative correlation between the transitivity of the motor network and SARA and ICARS scores was observed in ataxic patients. INTERPRETATION Changes to the WM motor network in SCA3 start before ataxia onset, and WM motor network involvement increases with disease progression. Global network topological measures of the WM motor network appear to be a promising image biomarker for disease severity. This study provides new insights into the pathophysiology of disease in SCA3/MJD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin‐Yuan Chen
- Department of Rehabilitation MedicineThe First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical UniversityFuzhouChina
| | - Zi‐Qiang Huang
- Department of RadiologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical UniversityFuzhouChina
| | - Wei Lin
- Department of NeurologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical UniversityFuzhouChina
| | - Meng‐Cheng Li
- Department of RadiologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical UniversityFuzhouChina
| | - Zhi‐Xian Ye
- Department of NeurologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical UniversityFuzhouChina
| | - Yu‐Sen Qiu
- Department of NeurologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical UniversityFuzhouChina
| | - Xiao‐Yue Xia
- Department of RadiologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical UniversityFuzhouChina
| | - Na‐Ping Chen
- Department of RadiologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical UniversityFuzhouChina
| | - Jian‐Ping Hu
- Department of RadiologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical UniversityFuzhouChina
| | - Shi‐Rui Gan
- Department of NeurologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical UniversityFuzhouChina
| | - Qun‐Lin Chen
- Department of RadiologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical UniversityFuzhouChina
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