1
|
Ellwardt E, Muthuraman M, Gonzalez-Escamilla G, Chirumamilla VC, Luessi F, Bittner S, Zipp F, Groppa S, Fleischer V. Network alterations underlying anxiety symptoms in early multiple sclerosis. J Neuroinflammation 2022; 19:119. [PMID: 35610651 PMCID: PMC9131528 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-022-02476-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2021] [Accepted: 05/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Anxiety, often seen as comorbidity in multiple sclerosis (MS), is a frequent neuropsychiatric symptom and essentially affects the overall disease burden. Here, we aimed to decipher anxiety-related networks functionally connected to atrophied areas in patients suffering from MS. METHODS Using 3-T MRI, anxiety-related atrophy maps were generated by correlating longitudinal cortical thinning with the severity of anxiety symptoms in MS patients. To determine brain regions functionally connected to these maps, we applied a technique termed "atrophy network mapping". Thereby, the anxiety-related atrophy maps were projected onto a large normative connectome (n = 1000) performing seed-based functional connectivity. Finally, an instructed threat paradigm was conducted with regard to neural excitability and effective connectivity, using transcranial magnetic stimulation combined with high-density electroencephalography. RESULTS Thinning of the left dorsal prefrontal cortex was the only region that was associated with higher anxiety levels. Atrophy network mapping identified functional involvement of bilateral prefrontal cortex as well as amygdala and hippocampus. Structural equation modeling confirmed that the volumes of these brain regions were significant determinants that influence anxiety symptoms in MS. We additionally identified reduced information flow between the prefrontal cortex and the amygdala at rest, and pathologically increased excitability in the prefrontal cortex in MS patients as compared to controls. CONCLUSION Anxiety-related prefrontal cortical atrophy in MS leads to a specific network alteration involving structures that resemble known neurobiological anxiety circuits. These findings elucidate the emergence of anxiety as part of the disease pathology and might ultimately enable targeted treatment approaches modulating brain networks in MS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Erik Ellwardt
- Department of Neurology, Focus Program Translational Neuroscience (FTN), Rhine Main Neuroscience Network (rmn2), University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Muthuraman Muthuraman
- Biomedical Statistics and Multimodal Signal Processing Unit, Department of Neurology, Focus Program Translational Neuroscience (FTN) Neuroimaging Center, Rhine Main Neuroscience Network (rmn2), University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Langenbeckstr. 1, 55131, Mainz, Germany.
| | - Gabriel Gonzalez-Escamilla
- Section of Movement Disorders and Neurostimulation, Department of Neurology, Focus Program Translational Neuroscience (FTN), Rhine Main Neuroscience Network (rmn2), University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Venkata Chaitanya Chirumamilla
- Section of Movement Disorders and Neurostimulation, Department of Neurology, Focus Program Translational Neuroscience (FTN), Rhine Main Neuroscience Network (rmn2), University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Felix Luessi
- Department of Neurology, Focus Program Translational Neuroscience (FTN), Rhine Main Neuroscience Network (rmn2), University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Stefan Bittner
- Department of Neurology, Focus Program Translational Neuroscience (FTN), Rhine Main Neuroscience Network (rmn2), University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Frauke Zipp
- Department of Neurology, Focus Program Translational Neuroscience (FTN), Rhine Main Neuroscience Network (rmn2), University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Sergiu Groppa
- Section of Movement Disorders and Neurostimulation, Department of Neurology, Focus Program Translational Neuroscience (FTN), Rhine Main Neuroscience Network (rmn2), University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Vinzenz Fleischer
- Department of Neurology, Focus Program Translational Neuroscience (FTN), Rhine Main Neuroscience Network (rmn2), University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| |
Collapse
|